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Road trip South Africa: 5 of the best routes

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written by Chris Clark

updated 20.05.2024

South Africa 's ever-changing landscapes, pristine coastlines, quirky small towns and abundance of wide open spaces have cemented the country's reputation as one of the world's best road trip destinations .

1. The Garden Route, Western Cape

2. the waterberg meander, limpopo, 3. the wild coast, eastern cape, 4. route 62, western cape, 5. the panorama route, mpumalanga.

For the intrepid traveller, it’s easy to get off the beaten path in the semi-desert of the Karoo or across the rugged hills of the Wild Coast . By the same token, the generally good infrastructure makes a road trip in South Africa much more accessible than in many of its neighbours. Here are five of the best road trip routes to experience South Africa in your own rental car .

Travel ideas for South Africa, created by local experts

7 days  / from 4800 USD

Cape Town and Garden Route - a luxury guided tour

Cape Town and the Garden Route have it all - a fascinating culture, safaris, chocolate and wine tasting, and much more. Discover the coastal city of Cape Town and the Peninsula before heading out to the Garden Route with Knysna and Mossel Bay, where you'll experience some game drives.

15 days  / from 4000 USD

The Cape Peninsula and Safaris in Kruger and Pilanesberg

Wildlife in South Africa is still truly wild, a fact that you'll be able to discover in this fascinating two weeks trip. Enjoy whale watching in Cape Town and first safaris in Aquila before heading up north: the famous Kruger and Pilanesberg national parks with all its wildlife await.

7 days  / from 3000 USD

Explore the North of South Africa: Sun City and Madikwe game reserve

For those short on time, staying close to Johannesburg may make sense. On this trip, you'll arrive and depart in Johannesburg and then transfer to the theme park Lost City before continuing to Madikwe for a few days of game drives to spot plenty of wildlife.

The Garden Route is certainly South Africa’s best-known road trip route, and not without good cause. It comprises an unfailingly picturesque 200km stretch of the N2 highway between Mossel Bay in the Western Cape and the Storms River Mouth on the Western fringes of the Eastern Cape.

The Garden Route is so-known for its verdant and varied vegetation and it gives easy access to a number of sublime beaches, dense mountain forests, picturesque lagoons and lakes, with a plethora of outdoor activities on offer.

The enchanting Knysna Forest is a popular spot for camping, hiking and mountain biking and home to a notoriously elusive population of forest elephants. The coastal town of the same name is renowned for its annual Oyster Festival and stylish boutique shops. And not to mention the excellent beaches.

For the more adventurous, stop off to surf some barrels at Plettenberg Bay or leap off the Bloukrans Bridge in Tsitsikamma, the world’s highest bridge bungee.

Best for: beaches and outdoor activities

How long: 4 days

Tailor-made trip: If sitting in a car doesn't sound too appealing to you, how about cycling the Garden Route ?

Rough Guides tip: For the ultimate experience, pick the best season for your adventure with our guide to the best time to visit South Africa .

Not to miss : Kayak the Storms River and explore the Tsitsikamma National Park.

Our favourite accommodation: Forest Edge close to Knysna. Ideal if you want to be close to the forest itself, these traditional two-bedroom woodcutters‘ cottages have verandas built in the vernacular tin-roofed style, and have been upgraded for extra comfort with good linen and fittings. The cottages are private and romantic. Forest walks and cycling trails start from the cottages, from where you can walk to rock pools and waterfalls.

© WitR/Shutterstock

Although it’s just a few hours’ drive from the pulsating urban hub of Johannesburg, the Waterberg Region doesn't make it onto most South African travel itineraries, and that’s a large part of its appeal.

Tucked away in Limpopo Province and known to locals as Africa’s Eden, this region comprises soaring mountain peaks, antediluvian sandstone rock formations, golden savannah plains, dense riparian forests and plunging river valleys.

The Waterberg Meander is a 350km self-drive route that takes road trippers right through the heart of the Waterberg Biosphere and incorporates many of its highlights, including the exclusive Welgevonden Game Reserve and the stunning Marakele National Park .

Along the route, there are also a number of community projects, cultural and historical sites, and some of the finest examples of the stellar Waterberg vistas.

Best for: game viewing

Rough Guides tip: Get inspiration for your road trip with our South African itineraries .

How long: 5 days

Mountain range in Limpopo, South Africa. Marakele National Park © Jurie Maree/Shutterstock

The ruggedly beautiful and aptly named Wild Coast runs from the coastal city of East London in the south of the Eastern Cape to the border of Kwa-Zulu Natal some 350km to the northeast.

As you drive across this region’s rolling hills, along its jagged coastlines or veer off the N2 onto the gravel roads that cut inland, you’ll often have the sense that little has changed here in the past hundred years. The hillsides are dotted with turquoise rondavels (round huts topped with thatched roofs) and small pastoral farming plots.

Formerly known as the Transkei during apartheid, this region has a rich and often bloody history and birthed struggle icons including Nelson Mandela and Steve Biko, both of whose lives can be revisited at a number of local heritage sites .

The Wild Coast also boasts the most idyllic and unspoilt beaches to be found anywhere in South Africa – at backpacking paradises like Coffee Bay or Port St Johns , you may find more cows lazing on the sand than people.

Best for: pristine coastline and rich cultural heritage

How long: 7 days

Our favourite accommodation: Morgan Bay Hotel - This friendly, well-run place overlooks a gorgeous beach and is one of the best hotels along the Wild Coast, particularly for family holidays. It offers good food and fresh, airy rooms; a caravan park is also available. Rates include breakfast and dinner. Another draw is that it’s only 76km from East London, all on tar roads.

South Africa is a really popular destination but a trip to Tanzania is the best way to experince a safari.

Route 62 is so-named for the R62 road that cuts across the countless lovely vineyards of the Cape Winelands , through dramatic mountain passes and into the heart of the Little Karoo , a wild and dusty region of open scrubland, livestock farms and quaint rural towns.

Route 62 is considerably less popular and less developed than its coastal counterpart the Garden Route, but it has gained a cult following amongst South Africans for its beauty, untamed eccentricity and distinct lack of traffic.

The historic spa town of Montagu is well worth a visit for its pretty colonial architecture and hot springs , while the charmingly arty Barrydale has a number of good roadside cafés, including the Diesel & Crème Diner, known for its milkshakes and nostalgic American memorabilia.

The best of the raw semi-desert landscapes and spectacular star-studded night skies are to be found in the Karoo National Park , while the Breede River Valley is a favourite for riverside camping and kayaking excursions.

Best for: wine and charming rural towns

How long: 3 days

Not to miss: A game drive from Oudtshoorn marveling at the fascinating wildlife but also the stunning views of the Swartberg mountains.

Our favourite accommodation: Aasvoelkrans Guest Farm in Montagu - Set in a pretty part of town, these four exceptionally imaginative garden rooms are housed in a guesthouse situated on a farm, with Arab horses grazing in the fields. There is also a two-bedroomed self-catering cottage suitable for a family or larger group.

© Circumnavigation/Shutterstock

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Centring around the jaw-dropping Blyde River Canyon and the historic mining town of Graskop, the Panorama Route is well worth the short detour from Kruger National Park , Mpumalanga ’s main attraction.

As the name would suggest, this route, which takes you along the highest tar road in South Africa, offers spectacular views of the area’s mountains, canyons and valleys. Eagles soar overhead and the sound of thundering waterfalls punctuates the stillness.

Fish for yellowtail or carp in the tranquil Ohrigstad Dam Nature Reserve or walk through the mist-covered indigenous forest above Blyde River Canyon, which is the third largest canyon in the world.

The history of this region is as rich as the mineral deposits that sparked a gold rush here in 1873. Relive this history at Pilgrim’s Rest, a former gold mining town that is now a national museum where you can try your hand at gold panning.

Best for: dramatic vistas and nature walks

How long: 2 days

Not to miss: Explore the third-largest canyon in the world on a guided cruise past the Kadishi Tufa waterfall and the marvelous mountain peaks.

Our favourite accommodation: Graskop Hotel - One of the nicest places to stay on the Escarpment, with a personal and relaxed atmosphere. Though unprepossessing from the outside, it actually has a very stylish interior of retro furniture, African baskets, fabrics and sculptures. The rooms, some of which are in garden wings, are airy and decorated with simplicity and flair. Most importantly, there is a swimming pool.

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The Ultimate South Africa Itinerary with map (2023)

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A South Africa road trip is one of the most amazing road trips on the planet. South Africa is a huge country with lots to see and do and this can make planning a road trip to capture the best of the country a daunting task. After a month-long epic 6,000km road trip from Johannesburg to Cape Town, taking in Eswatini (formerly Swaziland) and Lesotho, we wanted to share our ultimate South Africa road trip itinerary and route. For any of you planning a South Africa road trip here is our guide for making the perfect South Africa Itinerary.

Table of Contents

South Africa Itinerary Route

We chose a point to point route, flying into Johannesburg and departing from Cape Town, opting for a one-way car rental. This allowed us to explore lots of South Africa and take in many of its must-see sights: the beautiful Panorama Route, an unforgettable safari in Kruger National Park, an off-road adventure across the Sani Pass into Lesotho, the stunning Garden Route , Eswatini, the wildlife in Addo Elephant Park and the love at first sight  Cape Town as well as everything in between!

South Africa itinerary tip:  This is an action packed route which we covered in four to five weeks. It involves significant amounts of driving so we’d definitely recommend two drivers or stretching the trip out over a longer period.

South Africa Route Map

Our suggested route across South Africa is below:

Johannesburg – Panorama Route – Kruger/Sabi Sands – Swaziland – iSimingaliso Wetland Park – Sani Pass – Lesotho – Valley of Desolation – Garden Route – Cape Town

Click here for the detailed Google map

How to Use This Google Map: Click on the grey star at the top of the map and this map will be added to your Google Maps account. You can then view it on your phone or computer in Google Maps by clicking on the menu button, going to “Your Places” and selecting this map. We use these maps all the time as you can set out your itinerary ahead of time and quickly reference the saved maps.

Renting a Car

Renting a car in South Africa is the best way to explore the country plus driving is relatively easy in the country (check out our tips for renting a car in South Africa tips for renting a car in South Africa ). Having your own car gives you the flexibility to travel at your own pace a see places that are simply not possible on group tours or public transport.

We’re huge fans of road trips and have driven rental cars in almost 50 countries so we have a lot of experience renting cars in foreign countries. Book your car now with RentalCars.com , where you will find the best rental car prices

Click here for the best rental car prices

South Africa Guidebooks

Check out some of our favourite South Africa Guidebooks for more trip inspiration.

Buy now on Amazon!

Daily Itinerary

Day 1: arrive in johannesburg.

We arrived in Johannesburg after a full day of travel from Dublin, Ireland and opted to catch up on some much-needed sleep before starting our journey through South Africa.

Where to Stay in Johannesburg:

• Protea Hotel by Marriott Johannesburg Parktonian All-Suite: After a long day of travel we wanted somewhere close to the airport to rest our heads and opted to spend the night in Johannesburg. It was clean and comfortable and we woke up refreshed and ready to begin our journey – click here for best prices!

Click here for the best Johannesburg Hotel Prices

Day 2: Johannesburg and Cradle of Humankind

We started our morning with a whistle-stop tour of Soweto, the most well-known township in South Africa, where we stopped at Vilakazi Street which was once home to two Nobel Peace Prize winners, Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu. A visit to the Apartheid Museum is an essential part of any Johannesburg itinerary.

After Johannesburg, we drove to the Cradle of Humankind, one of South Africa’s 8 UNESCO World Heritage Sites which documents the evolution of humans over time.

South Africa itinerary tip: We’re obsessed with  UNESCO World Heritage sites  so, if you don’t fancy the 3 hour detour to the Cradle of Humankind, staying in Johannesburg for a second night may be a better option.

Where to Stay :

• African Pride Mount Grace: Where we stayed and close to Cradle of Humankind, and loved our villa with its private plunge pool – Click here for best prices!
• If you opt to stay in Johannesburg The Residence is pure luxury in the city while the Protea Hotel by Marriott Johannesburg Parktonian All-Suite  is an excellent less expensive option.

Click here to book this hotel now!

Day 3 and 4: Hazyview and the Panorama Route

We left Johannesburg with our sights set firmly on the safari plains of Kruger National Park and Sabi Sands Game Reserve and spent two nights in Hazyview, a town on the cusp of both the park and the Panorama Route. The iconic Three Rondavels, beautiful viewpoints and stunning waterfalls make up the Panorama Route and it’s worth spending the day exploring ( check out our favourite stops on the Panorama Route ).

Where to stay in Hazyview :

• Protea Hazyview: Where we stayed  and well located for us to explore the Panorama Route and continue to our safari in Kruger National Park and Sabi Sands – click here to book now!

Click here for the best Hazyview hotels

Days 5 to 7: Sabi Sands Private Game Reserve, Kruger National Park

Kruger, South Africa’s largest game reserve and home to the Big 5, was our park of choice for our first foray into safari and we opted to spend two nights in Sabi Sands, a bordering private game reserve. Given it was our first safari we decided on a 2-night trial to see if we enjoyed safari life. We absolutely loved it and have since returned to Namibia and Botswana for more Africa wildlife adventures ! Both Kruger and Sabi Sands are amazing safari options in South Africa so you may want to set aside some additional time for this part of the trip. Check out our safari photos here .

South Africa Itinerary Tip:  Sabi Sands is a private game reserve which shares unfenced borders with the publicly accessible Kruger National Park. Unfenced means the animals move freely between the two parks and this makes for an equal chance of game sighting in both. We choose a private game reserve as we wanted to be taken on game drives rather than do a self drive and loved that we would have the opportunity to go off road for sightings.

Where to Stay in Sabi Sands:

• Inyati Game Lodge: We opted for the Inyati Game Lodge in Sabi Sands and never regretted it – we were totally spoiled from start to finish. Incredible rooms, beautiful food, excellent staff and a stunning riverside location all made for an idyllic stay. Our amazing guide introduced us to the Big 5 within our first 24 hours and were were hooked!  Read our review  Inyati Game Lodge in Sabi Sands here   – and –  Click here to book this hotel now!

Click here for the best lodges in Sabi Sands

Days 8 and 9: Safari in Eswatini

Swaziland is the smallest country in the southern hemisphere and, if you want to include another African country in your adventure, post-Kruger is the perfect time to make the drive into Swaziland. Safari is a highlight of a Swaziland adventure and both the Hlane Royal National Park and Mkhaya Game Reserve offer the opportunity to spot the Big 5.  After a relatively quick border crossing at the Mananga border crossing, we opted for Hlane which is home to 4 of the Big 5 with elephant, lion, leopard and white rhino roaming it’s grounds.

South Africa Itinerary tip:  Hlane has some fenced off sections which, although less natural than the unfenced Kruger, mean wildlife spotting is almost guaranteed.

Where to Say in Eswatini : 

• Hlane Royal National Park: The lodge is rustic with no electric in the huts but it is right in the midst of the action just 400 metres away from the lion enclosure – click here for prices!

Day 10: Sibebe Rock and Mantenga Village

Day 10 saw us heading west towards the capital city Mbabane which is home to the colourful souvenir filled Swazi market. Other stops close by include the Mantenga Village in Ezulwini which is home to a traditional village and, if nature peaks your interest, Sibebe Rock is the second largest freestanding rock in the world after Ayers Rock in Australia.

South Africa road trip itinerary tip:  A visit during its annual Umhlanga Reed dance ceremony, when tens of thousands of Swazis girls participate in an 8 day song and dance festival, is an important date in the Swaziland calendar and a feast for the ears and eyes.

Where to Stay:

• The Royal Swazi Spa Hotel:  is located just outside Mbabane and it was a welcome return to modern day amentites with a swimming pool, spa and golf course – click here for prices!

Click here for the best Swaziland hotel prices

Day 11 and 12: Hluhluwe and iSimingaliso Wetland Park

After leaving Swaziland via the Golela border crossing we drove to Hluhluwe where we based ourselves for two nights to visit the iSimingaliso Wetland Park. Spend the night at the Protea Hluhluwe   and schedule an early start to arrive at iSimingaliso National Park for opening. iSimingaliso is a UNESCO World Heritage Site with the highlights being Cape Vidal, Mission Rocks Beach, the wetlands and St Lucia with its hippo, crocodile and flamingos.

South Africa Itinerary Tip:  Hluhluwe Rhino Reserve has a large population of black and white rhino. We had some incredible rhino encounters in Sabi Sands so we opted to skip this, however we had high recommendations from fellow travellers we met on the trip.

Where to Stay in Hluhluwe: 

• Protea Hluhluwe: We stayed at the Protea Hluhluwe which was hotel was reasonably priced with great food, secure parking and nice rooms. Perfect for exploring the iSimingaliso Wetland Park – Click here for the best prices!

Click here for the best hotels at iSimingaliso Wetland Park

Day 13: Underberg 

If you want to visit Hluhluwe Rhino Reserve this morning is a good opportunity before setting of on the five hour drive to Underberg, the town closest to the beginning of the Sani Pass and the gateway to Lesotho. We spent our evening in Underberg eating an excellent meal at  Malachite Manor  and chilling out before our early morning start for Lesotho.

Where to Stay in Underberg: 

• Malachite Manor: We stayed at the gorgeous boutique style Malachite Manor, which is a short drive from the start of the Sani Pass. The rooms were beautiful, the Thai restaurant on site was delicious and the lady who runs it is a treasure! – click here for best prices!

Click here for the best hotels in Underberg

Day 14: Sani Pass and Lesotho

The Sani Pass is a mountain pass that cuts through the UNESCO designated Drakensberg mountain range linking South Africa with the mountain kingdom of Lesotho. As the only road link between southern Lesotho and South Africa, it was an important trade route to enable the landlocked Kingdom of Lesotho to trade with South Africa. More recently it has become a magnet for tourists and 4×4 adventurers, eager to experience the challenging off-road drive and magnificent views of the Drakensberg mountain range. It’s also one of Africa’s highest mountain passes and home to the highest pub in Africa at the top! Check out our Sani Pass adventures here!

South Africa Itinerary Tip:  rent a 4×4 vehicle if you want to cross the Sani Pass as it is essential. Some companies offer day trips over the Pass if you prefer to leave the driving to someone else.

Where to Stay in Lesotho

Accommodation options are limited outside Lesotho’s capital city of Maseru so we opted to spend the night at the Sani Mountain Lodge which is located beside the highest pub in Africa and looks out on the Sani Pass. Accommodation is basic but it was our only option to break the drive between Underberg and Maseru.

Day 15: Lesotho

After leaving the Lesotho border we headed for the capital city of Maseru. Lesotho has some fantastic sights: the Katse Dam, the Maletsunyane Falls (the highest Falls in Southern Africa), the Ha Baroana rock art east of Maseru and the beautiful Sehlabathebe National Park. Driving through the villages of Lesotho and witnessing daily life is also a fantastic experience.

Where to Stay in Lesotho  

• There are few good options for hotels in Maseru, but the AVANI hotels are a choice in Maseru. There’s the Avani Lesotho Hotel and Casino  and the Avani Maseru Hotel   are perfect for an overnight stopover in Maseru.

Click here for the best hotels in Maseru

South Africa Itinerary tip:  the children of Lesotho love to approach the tourist cars asking for some sweets so pick up some in South Africa if you want to make their day.

Day 16: Bloemfontein

Leaving Maseru, cross back into South Africa at the Maseru Bridge border crossing. We opted to spend the night in Bloemfontein which is a few hours from South Africa – Lesotho border. Bloemfontein is the birthplace of Lord of the Rings author JRR Tolkien before he moved to England and we made a little detour to the Hobbit Boutique Hotel where a plaque stands in his memory.

Where to Stay in Bloemfontein:

• Protea Hotel Willow Lake: We spent the night here at this perfect overnight hotel which overlooks the zoo next door. So you can waken to the animals in the morning out your widow! – Click here for best prices!
• Lord of the Rings fans may prefer to stay at the Hobbit Boutique Hotel where rooms are named after Lord of the Rings characters.

Click here for the best hotels in Bloemfontein

Day 17: Graaff-Reinet

Graaff-Reinet is half way between Bloemfontein and Port Elizabeth and is home to the incredible geological phenomenon known as the Valley of Desolation. The vertical cliffs and the freestanding hundred metre high columns are breathtaking and the sunsets spectacular. This was one of our favourite stops on our South Africa road trip and we would absolutely include it on your itinerary!

Where to stay in Graaff-Reinet: 

• Drostdy Hotel: one of our favourite hotels of our South Africa road trip, we stayed in the Drostdy Graaff-Reinet . The rooms are stunning and our breakfast and evening meal in the restaurant were both beautiful. The grounds, secluded swimming pools and fantastic staff made our stay here unforgettable. Nothing was too much trouble and a really good bottle of wine was around US $10! – Click here for best prices!

Click here for the best Graaf-Reinet hotel prices

Day 18 and 19: Port Elizabeth and Addo Elephant Park

Addo Elephant Park is home to one of the densest elephant populations on earth as well as rhino, lion, buffalo and leopard. We spent two full days self-driving in Addo before starting the Garden Route and we were totally addicted to the abundance of wildlife. With 450 elephants our elephant encounters were truly magical and we will never forget the moment a family of elephants walked alongside us in the setting sun.

South Africa road trip itinerary tip: If you’ve travelled the Garden Route previously or opt to return east then Route 62 is the scenic inland alternative with lots of kitchy small towns to explore. It’s the longest wine route in the world and highlights include the Karoo Desert National Botanical Garden and Ronnies Sex Shop.

Where to stay in Port Elizabeth: 

• Protea Marine Port Elizabeth: We stayed in this hotel which was the perfect retreat after a day at Addo Elephant Park before we hit the Garden Route – Click here for best prices!

Click here for the best hotels in Port Elizabeth

Day 20 and 21: Plettenberg Bay | the Garden Route

The Garden Route is one of the most beautiful stretches of coastline in the world and is an absolute must see on any South African road trip. The spectacular coastal drive stretches from Storms River Mouth in the Eastern Cape to Mossel Bay in the Western Cape and, for us, it was love at first sight as we set off to explore the best sights. We based ourselves in Plettenberg Bay for the first two nights and visited Storms River Mouth, jumped off Bloukran’s Bridge and took long walks on the beach at Plettenberg Bay. Read more about our Garden Route adventures here.

Where to Stay in Plettenberg:

• Singing Kettle: we spent an incredible few nights at the Singing Kettle in Plettenberg Bay. This was one of the best self catering accommodations we’ve ever stayed at, the restaurant below was fantastic and the views over the Indian Ocean were spectacular – Click here for best prices now!

Click here for the best hotels in Plettenberg Bay

Book the Singing Kettle now

South Africa Itinerary Tip:  The architecturally stunning Bloukrans Bridge is, at over 200 metres, the highest in Africa and arches dramatically over the gorge below. As well as being visually stunning, it is also home to one of the highest bungy jumps in the world. Dave immediately signed up, leaped off that bridge like a pro and had the time of his life so if you’re feeling brave … bungy jump!!

Day 22 : Knysna | the Garden Route

Knysna, a waterfront town along the Garden Route, is a gorgeous base for one night to check out the Knysna Heads. The Knysna Heads are two imposing sea cliffs that protect the entrance to the Knysna lagoon from the unrelenting Indian Ocean. Despite our sea drenching from a bumpy boat ride to the Heads it was spectacular to watch the sea thrash through the narrow gap and drink in the stunning scenery.

Where to Stay in Knysna : 

• Protea Hotel Knysna Quays: we stayed here on the waterfront and the views and sunsets were stunning – Click for best prices now!

Click here for the best hotels in Knysna

Day 23: George | the Garden Route

As the Garden Route draws to a close The Map of Africa and Kaaimans River Bridge are beautiful stops near Wilderness and The Post Office Tree is the highlight of Mossel Bay, the final stop on the Garden Route.

The Map of Africa viewpoint has a spectacular view overlooking the Kaaimans River Basin, where the flow of the river has formed a piece of land shaped exactly like a map of the African continent.  As for the Post Office tree, the story goes that in 1501 a Portugese sailor sought refuge in Mossel Bay during a storm and he left a written account, with an address, in an old boot. The report was found by the person it was addressed to and the tree then served as a post office.

South Africa Itinerary tip:  It’s still possible to post letters at the old Post Office Tree and we took the opportunity to send ourselves a postcard from the boot shaped post box!

Where to Stay in George

• Protea Outeniqua: After a fun day of sightseeing we opted to spend the next night in George where we opted for the Protea Outeniqua, a great road trip hotel which was excellent value for money and had excellent rooms – Click here for best prices!

Click here for the best hotels in George

Day 24: Gansbaai

As we left the Garden Route for Cape Town we couldn’t resist a detour to check out Cape Agulhas, the most southern point in the African continent and the dividing point of the Indian and Atlantic Ocean. The rugged wilderness, the crashing waves where two oceans meet and the stunning African sunset took our breaths away. Gansbaai is a stunning stopover en route to Cape Town and its natural beauty is mesmerising. The rugged coastline is as spectacular as the sea life in its waters: whales, seals, penguins and sharks are abundant in the area and it’s known as the Great White Shark capital of the World. Gansbaai is also one of the most popular spots for cage shark diving if you so desire!

Where to Stay in Gansbaai : 

• Bellavista Country Place : The beautiful Bellavista Country Place was our final hotel before Cape Town and we indulged in some well deserved luxury and glorious views – Click here for best prices!

Click here for the best hotels in Gansbaai

Book the Bellavista Country Place now

Days 25 to 30: Cape Town

We spent 5 nights in Cape Town and it was the perfect amount of time in what we consider as one of the world’s most beautiful cities. From the iconic Table Mountain and the historic Robben Island to the surrounding world class vineyards and the stunning coastal drives, Cape Town was incredible. When in Cape Town check out:

• its incredible sights ,
• drive to the Cape of Good Hope (stopping at the penguin filled Boulders Beach),
• hike to Lion’s Head for incredible views of Table Mountain  and
• take a day trip to Stellenbosch, Franschhoek and Paarl, some of South Africa’s most famous wine regions.

Where to Stay in Cape Town

• Protea Waterfront Breakwater Lodge: we stayed at the Protea Waterfront Breakwater Lodge.  This waterfront hotel is an excellent choice if you want a V&A location at a lower price. The rooms in the main hotel building were our favourites and we loved being two minutes walk from the waterfront – Check prices now!
• POD Camps Bay : Camps Bay is a stunning Cape Town suburb within easy reach of the city and an awesome alternative to staying in Cape Town itself. The rooms are compact but gorgeous and the views are incredible with miles of ocean, a mountain backdrop and magical sunsets. – Check prices now!
• Long Street Boutique Hotel: if you want to be in the middle of the action Long Street, surrounded by restaurants, shows, cafes and bars is a great option. This quirky hotel is a fab boutique choice for leisure travellers and is good value by Cape Town standards – Check prices now

Click here for the best Cape Town Hotel Prices

South Africa Itinerary tip:  budget a few days for Cape Town as there is lots to do and the weather can be unpredictable. Our initial booking to Robben Island got cancelled just as we were about to board the ferry due to high winds and it was three days before Table Mountain finally peeked through the clouds.

Driving in South Africa

We were given two pieces of advice upon renting the car and they’re crucial for driving in South Africa:

• Always ask locally at your hotel for advice on the best route (Google Maps may send you on a terrible road because the distance is slightly shorter) and check the distances and times on Google Maps and ensure that the drive is manageable before setting off. We split the driving between two drivers and are both comfortable and practiced in driving long distances.
• Avoid driving after dark in South Africa especially in rural areas: roads are often unmarked and unlit, animals are a frequent sighting on the road and it’s hard to spot them after dark and we often encountered people walking along the roads with no reflective gear.

Rent your car now for South Africa

For more driving tips check out our  guide to driving a rental car in South Africa .

South Africa itinerary tip: make sure to inform your car rental company if you are planning on taking the car outside of the country of rental. At the time of rental we were given letter of authority to show at border crossings which allowed us to take the car into Swaziland and Lesotho

Extending the itinerary

Our detailed itinerary is ideal for a three week or month-long trip but there are other South Africa highlights which you might wish to include if you have additional time:

• Safari:  South Africa is a safari dream and, if you love safari, allocate extra time to the game parks.
• Lesotho and Eswatini:  spend more time exploring these African gems! We would have dedicated more days if we had the time!
• North West Province:  big 5 game reserves, hikes, mountains and quaint towns make up one of South Africa’s least visited provinces. If you have a few extra days continue north to Namibia and Fish River Canyon.
• Route 62:  route 62 is the scenic inland alternative to the Garden Route with lots of kitchy small towns to explore. It’s the longest wine route in the world and highlights include the Karoo Desert National Botanical Garden and Ronnies Sex Shop.

South Africa Itinerary tips

• Currency: get some South African rand before you leave home or at the airport on arrival.
• Fuel: on long drives in the Eastern part of the country pick up fuel regularly in the major towns as there can be long distances between stations. Credit cards are accepted in the larger stations but some smaller stops were cash only.
• Supplies: snack and drinks are available at most of the fuel stops and the bigger towns had a well stocked Spar. We picked up a cool box on arrival to keep our liquids cool.
• Maps/GPS: we downloaded maps onto our phone which were accessible offline and they worked really well. We kept a paper map in the glove box just in case!
• SIM cards: it’s easy to pick up a pay as you go SIM in the airports as well as local mobile network stores. Vodafone was awesome for us.
• Internet: widely available and our Vodafone SIMs had a generous data allowance.

11 thoughts on “The Ultimate South Africa Itinerary with map (2023)”

Thank you for a well detailed summary of your wonderful travel through parts of southern Africa. It is helpful to me and other travelers.

Thanks Clarence, glad it’s helpful!

Excellent blog. Your detailed itinerary is extremely helpful and the photos are amazing. I plan to visit SA in May for two weeks, and I’m wondering if you would be able to recommend a route? My trip will begin in Johannesburg, and if I can find a one way car rental then I will fly out from Cape Town.

If you’re into safari I’d recommend doing some safari in Kruger or one of the private reserves then flying over to Cape Town and spending 5 days there and maybe the garden route. If you don’t find a one way rental there’s loads to do on the east coast too – the Panorama route, Hluhluwe Game Reserve has a great chance of seeing black and white rhino and some of the towns of the East Coast are great.

Hope that helps Elaine

Great post. Do you recommend any quite beach to spend some time? I see that all beaches are with waves. Did you find any quite one or perhaps some lake to swim?

Cape Town has some fab beaches and there’s load of great options – Muizenberg, Camp’s Bay, Boulder’s Bay and the Clifton beaches are all gorgeous. We loved the tidal pools at Camp’s Bay for a swim. There’s some lovely beaches along the Western and Eastern Cape and Durban has a beautiful Golden Mile as well. We don’t spend a lot of time at the beach but those were our favourites and were busy when we visited!

could you please tell me which month you travel in South Africa , the weather look fine on pictures . Even in Lesotho .Did you have storms or mainly rain . Did you really like Swatziland because the pictures are not so telling. Thanks Domi

The pics in this article are from March and the weather was mostly sunny with the exception of afternoon rains in Sabi Sands and some heavy rain storms in Johannesburg. We just returned from a December/January trip and had similar weather.

We really liked Swaziland but it really depends what you want when you travel – it’s an interesting mix of nature, game viewing and the culture and tradition that comes with a King reigning over the country. Safari is a highlight, then there’s the Mantenga Village in Ezulwini which is home to a traditional village and then Sibebe Rock is the second largest freestanding rock in the world after Ayers Rock in Australia.

Hi Thanks for your helpful trip diary. I just got back from a road trip in South Africa which was much shorter but still managed to see a lot of the things you mentioned !

Thanks Hamed, glad you saw so much 🙂

hey i would like to have same experience but with some modifications so only need to know about the transportation costs and the if there are some nice hostels you have met in your way of your trip .

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​Popular Routes – South Africa

Philip lives in South Africa and has authored many guidebooks to African destinations, including the Rough Guide to Game Parks of South Africa.

Philip lives in South Africa and has authored many Africa guidebooks, including the Rough Guide to Game Parks of South Africa.

Philip is the author of many Africa guidebooks, including the Rough Guide to Game Parks of South Africa.

Philip is author of the Rough Guide to Game Parks of South Africa.

Popular Routes Where Wildlife Viewing Is a Major Part of the Tour

With good roads and general infrastructure, South Africa is a popular self-drive destination. The circuits described below can be done as a self-drive package or you can book a comparable group or custom tour, in which case all transport will be arranged by your tour operator.

Kruger and Zululand (2 to 3 weeks)

After arriving at Johannesburg’s O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB), you head east to the Lowveld in the Mpumalanga province where the best wildlife parks are situated. Destinations:

• Kruger National Park (3 to 5 days) is South Africa’s largest and most famous park
• MalaMala Game Reserve (2 to 4 days) is one of the private reserves bordering Kruger where the Big Five can be checked off on a single game drive
• uMkhuze Game Reserve (2 to 3 days) is excellent for watching animals from a hide
• Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Game Reserve (2 to 4 days) is a scenic park with rolling hills, known for its rhino and nyala populations
• Durban (1 to 3 days) is a great place to end your trip with some shopping and time on the beach

Popular add-ons:

• Drakensberg for hiking in a spectacular mountain setting
• Cape Town for visiting Africa’s most vibrant city and taking a cable car up Table Mountain
• The Garden Route for whale watching and outdoor activities

Cape and Coast (1.5 to 2.5 weeks)

After arriving at Johannesburg’s O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB), you take a connecting flight to Cape Town. Destinations:

• Cape Town (2 to 4 days) is one of the world’s most attractive cities with great city life and natural beauty
• The Garden Route (4 to 8 days) is one of South Africa’s most scenic regions offering whale watching, hiking, canoeing and relaxation on idyllic beaches
• Addo Elephant National Park (2 to 3 days) is home to the Big Five and the elephant-viewing is out of this world
• Oudtshoorn (1 to 3 days) is the ostrich capital of South Africa, and the base for a visit to the extensive Cango Caves
• Winelands tour for wine sampling and culture
• Cape Agulhas for standing on the spot where two oceans meet
• The Otter trail for hiking the most popular coastal trail in South Africa

The Atlantic Route (1.5 to 2.5 weeks)

After arriving at Johannesburg’s O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB), you can choose the less-obvious route west of the country. A long drive to Upington brings you to the Kalahari, South Africa’s desert. Destinations:

• Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park (3 to 5 days) is the place to see desert-adapted animals and predators on sand dunes
• Augrabies Falls National Park (2 to 3 days) is a stark but scenic park with a magnificent waterfall
• Namaqualand (3 to 5 days) is not to be missed from August to September, when the otherwise arid region transforms into a flowering desert
• Cape Town (2 to 4 days) is a world class city offering excellent shopping, wining and dining as well as a full range of outdoor activities
• Winelands Tour for wine sampling and culture
• The Garden Route for whale watching and scenic beauty

Want To Visit South Africa?

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4-Day Greater Kruger Safari at Simbavati River Lodge

$1,654 pp (USD)

South Africa: Private tour Luxury Lodge

You Visit: Hoedspruit (Start) , Timbavati NR (Greater Kruger) , Hoedspruit (End)

Indigo Safaris

4.8 /5  –  129 Reviews

7-Day South Africa Luxury Tour

$3,182 to $3,697 pp (USD)

South Africa: Private tour Luxury Lodge & Guest House

You Visit: Cape Town (Start) , Franschhoek (Winelands) , Timbavati NR (Greater Kruger) , Hoedspruit Airport (Hoedspruit) , Hoedspruit (End)

Wayfairer Travel

4.9 /5  –  151 Reviews

5-Day Kruger Park, Private Game Park & Canyon Explorer

$1,519 pp (USD)

South Africa: Shared tour (max 9 people per vehicle) Luxury Lodge

You Visit: Johannesburg (Start) , Hoedspruit (Town) , Central Kruger NP, Blyde River Canyon (Panorama Route) , O.R. Tambo Airport (Johannesburg) , Johannesburg (End)

Shinzelle Safaris

4.9 /5  –  63 Reviews

The Best South Africa Road Trip Itinerary

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Our South Africa road trip was one of the best trips we’ve ever taken.

We drove from Johannesburg to Cape Town in just over a month stopping to see the Big 5 on safari in Kruger, hike lush green mountains in the Drakensberg, walk along the dramatic Wild Coast, and explore the beaches and parks of the Garden Route.

We learnt about South Africa’s turbulent history, met its diverse people, sampled the country’s excellent wine, and ended in one of our new favourite cities, Cape Town.

South Africa is a stunning and diverse country and a road trip is the best way to explore it.

South Africa Road Trip Itinerary

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Our road trip was a total of 33 nights or 36 nights including Johannesburg, where we spent three nights at the start without a car. This doesn’t include Cape Town , where we spent two months at the end of our trip. We drove 4638km (2882 miles) in January-February, which is South Africa’s summer and the rainy season in the north and dry season along the Garden Route and Cape Town.

• Johannesburg – 3 nights

Greater Kruger

• Graskop – 2 nights
• Timbavati Private Game Reserve – 2 nights
• Klaserie Private Nature Reserve – 3 nights
• Olifants, Kruger National Park – 1 night
• Lower Sabie, Kruger National Park – 2 nights

Drakensberg Mountains (KwaZulu Natal)

• Wakkerstroom (stop on way) – 1 night
• Champagne Valley (Central Drakensberg) – 3 nights
• Underberg (Southern Drakensberg) – 2 nights

Wild Coast (Eastern Cape)

• Coffee Bay – 1 night
• Chintsa – 3 nights
• Hogsback – 3 nights

Garden Route (Western Cape)

• Storms River Mouth – 1 night
• Plettenberg Bay – 4 nights
• Wilderness – 2 nights
• Oudtshoorn – 2 nights
• Robertson – 1 night
• Cape Town – 2 months

You could do this trip in three weeks by skipping a few places or moving faster or even two if you cut out Kruger (but it was our favourite part). If you only have a week then drive the Garden Route from Cape Town.

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The blue line on the map is only an approximate route.

Note: The distances of each leg of our journey below are taken from Google Maps (which we used for navigation) and the times are the actual time it took us, usually including a petrol/toilet break. I’ve noted if we stopped for a longer break.

Days 1–3 Johannesburg (3 nights)

International flights to South Africa are usually cheaper to Johannesburg than to Cape Town so it makes sense to start your trip here. Many people skip the city but I think it’s worth a few days to learn about the country’s recent history.

We visited the Soweto township on a tour with Curiocity Hostel and the Apartheid Museum. Both are worth visiting for an understanding of the horrors of apartheid and the path to peace. I also recommend reading these South African books before your trip. 

Johannesburg has a reputation for being dangerous but it has improved in recent years and we had no problems. That said, you do need to be cautious and it’s best to get around by Uber rather than walking.

We stayed in the Maboneng Precinct which is safe to walk around even at night (but don’t stray too far). We loved this newly regenerated area full of art galleries, street art, cool restaurants, and an independent cinema and theatre. It was the most integrated area we visited in South Africa with a mix of black and white locals and visitors (so many places we visited later in the trip were all white).

In Maboneng you can either stay at the Curiocity Hostel or in one of the many Airbnbs , which is what we did. Our studio apartment was in the perfect location and was large and bright with a comfortable bed and the fastest WiFi we had in South Africa (10 Mbps up and down). If internet is important to you, make sure your apartment has free, unlimited WiFi as most don’t. 

You can find more hotels in Johannesburg here .

Maboneng has loads of great restaurants but many of them were closed for the summer holidays when we visited in early January. Our favourite place was Thali , which serves the best Indian food we had in South Africa. It is simple, inexpensive, tasty and has quite a few vegetarian options. Try to time you visit for a Sunday so you can visit Market on Main for food and art stalls. Find more places to eat in Maboneng here . 

Day 4 Johannesburg – Graskop (2 nights)

Distance: 382km Time: 4 hours 15 minutes

We took an Uber back to Johannesburg Airport to pick up our rental car. We chose to stop in Graskop rather than head straight to Kruger National Park so that we could drive the Panorama Route and be able to arrive at our first safari lodge in time for lunch.

Graskop is a small town with single storey buildings and wide roads that reminded us of Outback Australia. It’s the ideal base for driving the Panorama Route (hotels can provide a map). We spent four hours driving along Blyde River Canyon with stops at God’s Window (the viewpoint was obscured by fog), Bourke’s Luck Potholes (impressive rock formations), Three Rondavels (the best viewpoint with dramatic views of the canyon, river and massive rock formations), and the huge Lisbon Falls. Despite bad weather it was a beautiful drive.

We loved Havana Nights where we stayed in a three-bedroom self-catering bungalow. It was very comfortable with lots of homely touches and a very friendly owner. It’s in a quiet garden but only a short walk to town. The heater was handy as nights get chilly here even in summer. The WiFi was slow but that’s the norm in South Africa.

Find more places to stay in Graskop here .

Harrie’s Pancakes is the most famous spot and has tasty sweet and savoury pancakes. Canimambo is a Portuguese/Mozambique restaurant with three vegetarian mains including a good burger and a simple bean stew. There’s a SPAR supermarket for self-catering but it doesn’t have a huge amount of choice.

Distance: 133km Time: 2 hours 15 minutes

We spent eight nights on safari in the Greater Kruger area starting in two lodges in private reserves bordering Kruger National Park and moving on to government-run camps in the park—read my comparison of Kruger lodges vs self-drive .

We stayed at Umlani Bushcamp in Timbavati Reserve, a rustic off-the-grid camp that’s one of the most affordable in Kruger. In safari lodges all meals and two game drives a day are included. Our game drives were amazing and included an exciting wild dog chase and seeing the Big 5 in one drive—leopard, lion, elephant, rhino and buffalo. Read my Umlani Bushcamp review for more details.

Distance: 21km Time: 45 minutes

We were sad to leave Umlani when we moved to the neighbouring Klaserie reserve, but Klaserie Sands River Camp was even better (although very different). This luxurious yet relaxed and intimate lodge with just four rooms is the best place we’ve ever stayed. We loved the stunning design, the friendly team who made us feel at home, and the excellent game drives including getting up close to male lions for the first time. Read our detailed Klaserie Sands review .

Distance: 212km via Orpen Gate Time: 6 hours including lunch break at Satara and game viewing

We left our safari lodge behind for the next adventure— self-driving in Kruger National Park . It was a long drive from Klaserie Sands to Olifants Rest Camp but along the way we saw wildebeest, four elephants, large herds of zebra and giraffe, kudu, and hippos.

Self-driving is a very different experience to taking guided game drives from a lodge. We found it more difficult to get close to the animals, but it’s pretty exciting when an elephant walks across the road in front of you. Self-driving is also a lot more affordable than staying in a lodge—see our Kruger self-drive costs .

Read our detailed Kruger self-drive guide for everything you need to plan your own trip.

Distance: 153km Time: 6.5 hours with lunch break at Satara, game viewing, and detour due to road closure.

Kruger National Park is huge so it’s best to stay in a few different rest camps. From Olifants we moved to Lower Sabie Rest Camp in the south of the park. Usually this is the busiest but most wildlife-rich area, but in the rainy season we didn’t see as much as we expected. See our Kruger self-drive guide for our itinerary and accommodation reviews.

Day 14 Lower Sabie – Wakkerstroom (1 night)

Distance: 460km Time: 6 hours 45 minutes

Wakkerstroom is rather off the beaten track and I chose it purely as a stopover between Kruger and the Drakensberg, but it turned out to be a lovely destination. The drive here was scenic through beautiful green mountains and farmland.

Wakkerstroom is a tiny town surrounded by meadows of long grass and wetlands that attract rare birds. Most visitors come for the birding but it’s a beautiful spot for relaxing and hiking—we could easily have spent more than a night here.

Forellenhof Guest Farm is gorgeous. It’s a little out of town down a bumpy dirt track, but the setting is worth the extra drive. We stayed in Pretty Pig, a two-bedroom cottage with a comfortable living room and well-equipped kitchen but no WiFi. From all the rooms and terrace are views of a small dam full of birds with lush meadows and mountains in the background. It was very private and quiet except for the chattering of birds.

You can find more places to stay in Wakkerstroom here .

The Bistro is in a pleasant garden and has a few good vegetarian options including a Caprese salad, lentil curry, and feta and spinach pancakes. The grocery shop in town is very limited but there is a bakery and farm cheese shop.

Day 15 Wakkerstroom – Champagne Valley (3 nights)

Distance: 249km Time: 4 hours including stops at Superspar in Winterton for supplies and Valley Bakery for lunch.

The Drakensberg mountain range is the highest in South Africa and stretches for more than 1000km. Getting around is slow going so it’s best to focus your stay on one area rather than try to see it all. We started in the Champagne Valley near the Monks Cowl entrance to the uKhahlamba Drakensberg Park.

On our first day we began at 7.30am for the hike to Nandi Falls, which is the easiest hike in the area and took us 2.5 hours. We walked through meadows and forests with stunning views of the lush green mountains and jagged peaks—South Africa is astonishingly green at this time of year—and stops at Nandi and Sterkspruit Falls. It was a beautiful, relatively easy, and quiet hike that was a great introduction to the Drakensberg.

The next day we planned to hike to Blind Man’s Corner but it rained all day. There are lots of other hikes in the area but most are quite long and challenging.

We stayed at Inkosana Lodge , a hostel in a gorgeous setting of lush gardens with a natural swimming pool and mountain views. Our rondavel hut was more basic than we were used to on this trip, a little small and dark, but the bed was comfy and we had an ensuite and access to a clean shared kitchen. WiFi is only available in the common areas and costs 40R per person. The location was ideal just 7km from the Monks Cowl entrance.

You can find more hotels in the Central Drakensberg here.

Meals are available at Inkosana and there are a few restaurants in the area, but we self-catered. We also had lunch at the nearby Valley Bakery, which has decent sandwiches, salads and homemade products on sale.

Day 18 Champagne Valley – Underberg (2 nights)

Distance: 235km Time: 3 hours

Underberg is in the southern Drakensberg and is known as the start of the drive up the Sani Pass to Lesotho , which can be done as a day trip in a 4WD or on a tour. The area isn’t as convenient for hikes as Inkosana as the mountains are further away.

We went horse riding with Khotso Backpackers , 15 minutes outside Underberg. The saddles were a little uncomfortable but it was a stunning ride on impressive horses who manage to scramble up the steep rocky hills. The views from the top were stunning with green rolling hills and farmland in one direction and the dramatic craggy mountains of Lesotho in the other.

Khotso Backpackers has budget rooms and cottages in a lovely quiet setting, but we went for more comfort at Bergview Log Cabin closer to town. It’s a large, three-bedroom house with a garden, plunge pool, and terrace with mountain views. It felt like a real home and was very comfortable and well-equipped. There’s no WiFi but we had 3G most of the time. The only strange thing (for us at least) was that a uniformed housekeeper lives in a room under the house and comes to clean twice a day.

You can find more hotels in Underberg here .

Pukkety Tea Garden is a cute, cosy cafe with eclectic decor. Next door is their self-service farm shop where you can buy homemade jams, chutneys, cakes, cookies, bread and more. The SPAR supermarket has a good selection for self-catering. ( Update October 2019: Pukkety Tea Garden has now closed permanently.)

Day 20 Underberg – Coffee Bay (1 night)

Distance: 383km Time: 5.5 hours

It’s a beautiful drive through the mountains down to the Wild Coast. We felt the difference as we drove into the Eastern Cape—Nelson Mandela’s homeland—as it’s more traditional with colourful rondavels (traditional huts) dotted on the hills. On the road down to Coffee Bay horses, cows, sheep, and goats wandered freely into the road.

Coffee Bay is a small surf town with a wild beach and a rough around the edges vibe. We didn’t get the best first impression—read more about our experience in Coffee Bay here —and as we hated our hostel, we left after one night despite paying for two. In retrospect, I wish we had given it more of a chance (and stayed somewhere else) as it was so different from anywhere else we visited in South Africa and was an interesting insight into rural African life. The hike along the dramatic coastline to Hole in the Wall is worth doing.

There isn’t a lot of accommodation in Coffee Bay and it’s mostly backpacker hostels. I recommend staying at the Geckos B&B , which looks like the nicest option and I think we would have had a much better experience if we had stayed there (it was closed during our stay). If you are looking for a hostel, Coffee Shack is the most popular one. I do NOT recommend staying at Friends Backpackers, which was awful.

You can find more places to stay in Coffee Bay here .

There isn’t a lot of choice. Friends Wild Coast Cafe has a sea view, good cake and a few vegetarian options. Most backpackers also have restaurants.

Day 21 Coffee Bay – Chintsa (3 nights)

Distance: 263km Time: 4 hours

Chintsa (formerly Cintsa) is further along the Wild Coast and feels less traditional than Coffee Bay. We stayed at Buccaneers Backpackers , which has an isolated location and a beautiful view of the lagoon, beach and sea. It’s more of a hostel resort with a huge range of accommodation, pool, restaurant, bar, volleyball, and activities such as surf lessons, horse riding, and visits to community projects.

I did take one of the yoga classes but otherwise we just relaxed and took walks on the 18km long beach—wild and empty with pounding waves. We both came down with a stomach upset—it could have been something we ate at Buccaneers but I’m more inclined to blame the last hostel—so didn’t do much.

We loved the bright, modern suite at Buccaneers with a big comfy bed, two armchairs, fridge, ensuite and, best of all, sliding glass doors onto the terrace with an amazing sea view, which we could even enjoy from bed. It did not feel like a hostel room at all. Make sure you book in advance for the suite.

The suite was booked up for our last night so we moved to a two-bedroom cottage, which was fine but much more rustic.

Annoyingly Buccaneers charges for WiFi—25R per 500mb or 40R per GB and it only works in the bar/reception/restaurant area. We used our 3G instead.

You can find more places to stay in Chintsa here .

We mostly self-catered (stock up in advance) but Buccaneers does serve breakfast and lunch. Dinners are communal with a different theme every night—Mexican night was pretty good with help yourself burritos. There’s always a vegetarian option.

Day 24 Chintsa – Hogsback (3 nights)

Distance: 175km Time: 2 hours 45 minutes with a supermarket shopping trip

Despite still being sick we struggled on to Hogsback up in the Amatola Mountains of the Eastern Cape. Hogsback is known as a mystical place where you can visit fairy gardens or get a fairy reading, walk through magical forests to waterfalls, meditate around a labyrinth, or heal yourself with crystals. It’s often obscured by fog adding to its mysterious vibe.

Unfortunately, we were too ill to do any of this. Luckily, our rondavel at The Edge had gorgeous views of the mountains so at least we could enjoy the scenery from our sick bed.

From what we saw of it, Hogsback looked beautiful.

We stayed at The Edge Mountain Retreat , which is a short drive outside the village down a very bumpy dirt track. There are a number of bungalows spread out along the edge of a cliff, most with great views. Our Over the Edge rondavel was spacious with a comfortable bed, two armchairs by the fireplace, a big dining table, small kitchen, and lovely views. There’s decent free WiFi in the restaurant but only Edge cell signal.

If you are on a budget, Terra-Khaya Eco Farm and Away with the Fairies are backpackers with good reviews.

You can find more accommodation in Hogsback here .

We were too sick to eat, but the restaurant at The Edge is supposed to be good.

Day 27 Hogsback – Storms River Mouth (1 night)

Distance: 446km Time: 7 hours including road works and lunch break

It was a long drive from Hogsback but we took a break for lunch at the excellent InFood in surfer town Jeffrey’s Bay. With its bakery and fancy deli, it felt very different from the Wild Coast. We drove past Addo Elephant Park on the way, so this would have been a good place to break up the journey, but we decided to skip it after having seen many elephants in Kruger.

Storms River Mouth is a rest camp in the Tsitsikamma National Park at the start of the Garden Route in the Western Cape. In the morning we walked along the Mouth Trail to a suspension bridge swinging over the sea. Most visitors stop here but we carried on up a steep rocky path to a viewpoint where you can enjoy the bridge from above and the whole dramatic coastline. The total hike took us 1.5 hours. There are other hikes to do including the Waterfall Trail if you have more time.

The Storms River Mouth SAN Parks camp is spread out along the coast so most places have sea views. Our Oceanette was a basic studio apartment with sliding doors onto a terrace and the sea just beyond with massive waves crashing onto the rocks. Sometimes you can see dolphins (we didn’t). There’s no WiFi and we only had Edge cell signal.

There’s a restaurant and basic shop at the camp but it’s best to bring your own supplies.

Day 28 Storms River Mouth – Plettenberg Bay (4 nights)

Distance: 66km Time: 1 hour

We needed to slow down so spent four nights at Plettenberg Bay, one of the most popular beach towns on the Garden Route. There are plenty of beaches to explore and the water was just warm enough in February for a quick (chilly) dip. Lookout Beach was our favourite in walking distance of town.

The best thing we did was hike in the nearby Robberg Nature Reserve. The full hike around the peninsula takes about four hours but we did the medium hike, which took us 1 hour 45 minutes. It was a beautiful walk along the edge of cliffs with views of beaches and a seal colony. Our hike cut across the peninsula and we walked down a giant sand dune to reach a stunning, deserted beach.

There are plenty of other things to do in Plettenberg Bay including boat trips, swimming with seals, and canoeing and hiking at nearby Nature’s Valley.

We rented a two-storey, three-bedroom Airbnb apartment. It was very central, just off the main road and a 10-minute walk down a steep hill to the beach. Unfortunately, it’s no longer available but you can find more hotels in Plettenberg Bay here .

Le Fournil bakery has good bread and pastries. We liked the cupcakes at Clare’s Cakes and Deli. Pizzas at The Table were OK. The Lookout Deck has great views of the beach and is a good place for a drink, but the vegetarian options were limited.

Our best meal was a 20-minute drive from Plett at the Bramon Wine Estate . We booked an outside table in advance and are so glad we did. Our picturesque table was like a private booth tucked in a row of vines with mountains at the end. The tapas style menu has plenty for vegetarians including salads, cheeses, pastries, olives, and the most delicious homemade bread, all accompanied by their wines.

Day 32 Plettenberg Bay – Wilderness (2 nights)

Distance: 76km Time: 1.5 hours with stop at Knysna Heads

On our way to Wilderness we stopped at Knysna Heads (get directions to Viewpoint Eastern Knysna Head on Google Maps) where there’s a short walk along a boardwalk to various viewpoints with stunning views down the cliffs to rock formations and crashing waves.

Wilderness is a quiet beach town with a long wild beach backed by cliffs. The sea is too rough for swimming but the beach is perfect for long walks.

You can canoe and hike at Wilderness National Park just inland. We hired canoes from Eden Adventures , paddled for 40 minutes along a calm river and walked for 35 minutes through lovely forest to the Touw River Rockpools where there are two small waterfalls, rocks to sunbathe and picnic on, and chilly pools to swim in. It’s an easy and beautiful trip, but I recommend starting early as it gets busy later in the day.

We loved Wilderness and could easily have spent longer here and gone hiking, horse riding and paragliding.

Wilderness Beach Resort is more of a guesthouse than a resort but it is lovely. The owners are very friendly and the setting is spectacular on the cliffs above the quieter end of Wilderness Beach with 100+ steps down to the sand.

Our one-bedroom suite was bright, modern and comfortable with a bedroom, bathroom, living room with basic kitchenette, and sliding glass doors with sea views. There are loungers on the terrace to enjoy the view, but it’s not super private as people walk past on the way to their room. There is slow WiFi in the rooms and an indoor pool. It’s great value and definitely recommended.

You can find more places to stay in Wilderness here .

Flava Cafe has more vegetarian options than most places including a good veggie burger and curry.

Day 34 Wilderness – Oudtshoorn (2 nights)

Distance: 77km Time: 1 hour 20 minutes

Oudtshoorn is inland in the Klein Karoo semi-desert but it’s often included on the Garden Route. It’s a short but stunning drive from Wilderness and the landscape changed dramatically as we drove up into the mountains. It’s a much drier, hotter landscape, starkly beautiful with plains dotted with thorny bushes and backed by orange, red and chocolate mountains. It was unlike anywhere else we visited in South Africa.

Oudtshoorn is known for its ostrich farms, but as vegetarians, we decided to skip those and instead visited the impressive Cango Caves, did an early morning meerkat safari (a highlight of our trip), and drove over the dramatic Swartberg Pass to Prince Albert. Read about things to do in Oudtshoorn here.

We chose to stay out of town at De Oulde Meul Country Lodge , a large farm on the road towards the caves. Our room was a little dated but it had a fridge and air conditioning and was good value. There are two pools which we appreciated in the desert heat.

You can find more places to stay in Oudtshoorn here .

Signature Divine is a good lunch spot on the way to Cango Caves (and De Oulde Meul). The veggie options at  Buffelsdrift Game Lodge  aren’t very exciting but the setting makes up for it—we watched hippos, antelope, and giraffe at the waterhole while we ate. ( Update October 2019: Unfortunately, Signature Divine is now permanently closed.)

Day 36 Oudtshoorn – Robertson (1 night)

Distance: 298km Time: 4 hours

We originally planned to drive straight from Oudtshoorn to Cape Town but at the last minute we added a stopover in the Robertson Wine Valley and we’re so glad we did. The drive there was one of the most scenic of our trip through stunning desert mountains on Route 62, the longest wine route in the world.

Robertson is less well known than the wine towns closer to Cape Town and is quieter and cheaper, but the wineries are spread out and you’ll need a car. A highlight is wine tasting at Graham Beck who specialise in Methode Cap Classique, South Africa’s bubbly that’s made with the same method as champagne. Tastings are free and we bought a bottle of their rosé (which became our favourite South African bubbly) to toast the final night of our road trip.

The main reason we loved Robertson so much was the wonderful Orange Grove Farm . The farm has an isolated setting at the foot of craggy mountains amongst vineyards and olive groves. All the cottages are spread out for privacy, so it’s a real get away from it all experience.

We stayed in Mosesberg Cottage which has a spacious main room with a high ceiling, double bed, big comfy couch, armchairs, and fireplace. The WiFi is surprisingly good, the kitchen is well-equipped, and there’s a braai (barbecue). The terrace has a plunge pool and loungers to enjoy the view.

It was the perfect place for our last night and we desperately wished we didn’t have to leave the next day. I highly recommend splurging on a stay at Orange Grove as it’s excellent value for the quality and setting. We will return!

You can find more hotels in Robertson here .

Orange Grove Farm can deliver braai , picnic, and breakfasts baskets, and although they are a bit expensive, they are worth it (ask for a discount if you are vegetarian). Our  braai basket made barbecuing easy. We had olives and hummus to keep us going while we cooked the butternut squash stuffed with peppers and feta, garlic bread, and garlicky potatoes and served it all with salad. 

Our breakfast basket was another delicious feast and we loved eating on the terrace with that gorgeous view. You can choose from a range of options and we had croissants, chocolate muffins, seed bread, fruit salad, granola, yoghurt, and orange juice.

Day 37 Robertson – Cape Town

Distance: 151km Time: 2 hours

I definitely recommend spending more than one night in the Cape Winelands. Franschhoek would be the ideal next stop from Robertson (1 hr 20 mins away), but we visited as a side trip from Cape Town the following month. Franschhoek is more touristy and expensive than Robertson, but it’s even more beautiful with a cute village and stunning setting surrounded by mountains. It’s also easier to go wine tasting without a car on the fun wine tram . The food in the area is exceptional.

There’s gorgeous mountain and vineyard scenery most of the way from Robertson to Cape Town and then arriving in the city we had the breathtaking moment of seeing Table Mountain for the first time.

Cape Town is a truly amazing city with so much to do —beaches, hikes, markets, gardens, museums, helicopter rides , superb restaurants , and the stunning  Cape Peninsula drive to Cape Point. Spend as long as you can here—you could easily spend 10 days in Cape Town and the Cape Winelands. We were there for two months and it wasn’t enough.

Airbnb is a great option in Cape Town, especially if you are staying for more than a few days ( get $39 off your first stay here ). We rented a modern one-bedroom apartment in Sea Point just one block from the sea and a 10-minute Uber ride downtown. Sea Point feels very safe and I loved being able to run along the promenade.

Some parts of downtown Cape Town are sketchy and you have to be on your guard and not walk around at night. Gardens is a good central neighbourhood with great restaurants.

You can find hotels in Cape Town here .

There are so many incredible restaurants in Cape Town. You can read our detailed guide to the best vegetarian-friendly restaurants in Cape Town but some of our favourites include La Colombe (one of the best restaurants in the world, worth the splurge), Asoka (go for Tuesday Jazz Night), Addis in Cape (Ethiopian), Blacksheep (seasonal daily menu), Kloof St House (eclectic cuisine and decor in a Victorian house), Cousins Trattoria (homemade pasta), Jarryds (amazing breakfasts), Pot Luck Club (creative tapas), V&A Waterfront food market and any of the weekend markets.

• Accommodation – Use Booking.com to find self-catering accommodation, backpackers and hotels. We got some great last-minute deals. Airbnb is also good in the larger towns and cities.
• Car hire – Search Rental Cars for the best deals.
• SIM card + Google Maps – These made directions easy. We bought a Vodacom SIM card and 10GB data plan from Johannesburg airport.
• Travel insurance – Essential in case anything goes wrong. We used True Traveller as always—they are the best deal we’ve found for UK/EU residents. For other nationalities, Heymondo is a well-respected company who we’ve used in the past. 

You can also see our South Africa road trip costs and our guide to planning the perfect South Africa road trip . 

A road trip is a fantastic way to explore everything South Africa has to offer from safaris to mountains to beaches. It’s an easy, affordable place to travel and we never felt unsafe. 

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20 Comments

Hai , we r also planning tondo road trip after reading about your tour . It was too good . I am coming from india and plan to travel in mid May 2020 . I am with two children 12 amd 14 yrs. What are safety measure should I take ? And i have only 15 days . How can manage if can guide me . Thanks

Reply ↓

Great write up and a very accurate account of a well planned holiday.

I am living in South Africa and would be more than willing to give assistance, pointers and just general information to make your holiday one to remember.

Thanks very much! Sadly we’ve left South Africa but we’ll definitely be back.

Yep, I know! I would be more than willing to give direction to other fellow travelers too. We do quite a bit of traveling ourselves (retired!) and I know how great it is to be well informed, especially from a “local” perspective .. ??‍♀️

Love your writing style! Avid follower??

We are starting to read up on South Africa since we are planning our first trip to Africa for January to March (2.5 months or so) of 2020. I came across your absolutely fantastic road trip account and your route is pretty similar to what I had been thinking for our adventure. Certainly looks as if we could easily spend a month traversing S.A. from J’burg to Capetown with a rental car. Plus at least 2 weeks in CT and area. Thanks so much for the detail, accommodation suggestions, the gorgeous photos and the beautiful text. We’re both retired teachers so we appreciate great writing!

We had been thinking of spending a few weeks in East Africa but I’m intrigued by Namibia and/or Botswana. Have you guys been to either country?

Thanks again, Graham and Sue

Hi Graham, We definitely recommend this route (plus as much time as you can in and around Cape Town!) and you’ll be going at the same time of year as we did.

After our two months in Cape Town we flew to Namibia and did a two week road trip which you can read about here: https://www.neverendingvoyage.com/namibia-road-trip-itinerary/

It was a great addition to South Africa as it feels very different – wilder and more remote but still easy. It is more expensive though and you’ll be visiting in the rainy season. We did consider Botswana as well but it worked out to be too pricey and one way car rentals to multiple countries were especially expensive. Some people do a road trip to all three countries though.

Have an amazing trip! Erin

I will check out your Namibia road trip. Thanks!

It sounds as if you guys enjoyed your Wild Coast stops -with a couple of reservations. I’ve read a few ‘negative’ comments about that part of the country mainly about safety issues and pretty spotty roads. Anything to worry about re: safety providing we’re sensible and follow the basic rules of common sense? Is a normal 2WD rental car doable, again providing we’re careful and don’t try to break speed records while driving on questionable roads?

Accommodation was our main issue – if we’d had a better place to stay in Coffee Bay we’d have enjoyed it a lot more. The roads weren’t as bad as we were expecting and we managed fine in a normal 2WD compact car. And just normal common sense for safety is fine – we always kept our car doors locked and luggage hidden in the boot everywhere in South Africa. We had more issues in Cape Town than on the Wild Coast (but nothing serious). I’d definitely include the Wild Coast on your trip.

I stumbled upon this during hours of research for our 2018 road trip to SA, Originally we were going to fill in with the train from JNB to CPT. Why bother doing that when you’ve this gorgeous itinerary! Thanks massively, Jonathan- UK.

It’s a great drive with so much to see along the way – enjoy!

Hey, yes a price to work our budget towards would be awesome to repeat this journey. Also, what happened to that male lion? Looked as though it was in a fight?

What a great read.

Here’s what we spent: https://www.neverendingvoyage.com/south-africa-travel-costs/

Yes, the lion had been hunting the day before and was injured.

What was the total cost for this trip (airfare it included).

I will have about 3 weeks holiday attached to a business trip recruiting teachers to China.

We’ll actually have a budget post coming out next Monday that will share a detailed breakdown of our costs.

Here’s our travel costs post: https://www.neverendingvoyage.com/south-africa-travel-costs/

I am so desperate to do a road trip through Africa! I’ll be sure to come back to this guide when I somehow get the chance to plan it. I don’t think you could find a more in depth guide to South Africa. Amazing X

I hope you get the chance to visit South Africa Kate! It’s such an amazing country.

Thanks for such a comprehensive guide,,we are planning to do a similar route next year and this is just perfect aid to our plans.

Also you guys being veggies like us, have you tried the happcow app and site, we used them quite a bit in Russia and were amazed to find a good list of places to eat, yes russia had veg places to eat ;)

Yes, we use Happy Cow all the time – it’s so useful! Most of the places we visited on our road trip were too small to have a vegetarian restaurant but luckily most restaurants have at least one vegetarian option, even if it’s not that exciting. Cape Town is veggie heaven!

Have an amazing trip to South Africa!

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Foods to Try in South Africa

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How to Spend 10 Days in South Africa

The Perfect Itinerary for a 10 Day Trip to South Africa

Neil Austen/Getty Images

South Africa is a vast country, filled with world-famous game reserves, UNESCO World Heritage Sites , stunning beaches and multicultural cities. To explore it fully would take a lifetime. However, those of us that don't have endless vacation time or unlimited resources may have to be content with a much shorter visit . If you only have a few days, don't despair—you can still see several of South Africa's highlights before heading home. In this article, we prove that short trips can still be rewarding by creating the perfect 10 day itinerary.

Top Tip: Whether you choose this itinerary or decide to create your own, don't spread yourself too thin. South Africa is so large that if you try to see everything in 10 days, you'll spend more time traveling than actually experiencing each destination. Pick your must-see places and build your trip around them. 

Arrive in Cape Town, arguably the most beautiful city in the world. As your plane circles above the airport, make sure to look out of the window for iconic Mother City landmarks, including Cape Town Stadium and of course, Table Mountain . Spend an hour or two settling into your accommodation (whether you opt for a cozy B&B, or an iconic 5-star option like The Twelve Apostles . If it's your first time in the city, book tickets for an afternoon cable car ride to the top of Table Mountain, where breathtaking views of the city await.

If you've been before, you can skip this rite of passage and spend the afternoon recovering from your jet lag in beautiful Kirstenbosch Gardens . An hour or two before sunset, make your way to Blouberg Beach to watch the kite surfers and take sunset snaps of the mountain on the other side of the bay. Head to nearby restaurant The Blue Peter for dinner. It's a local landmark and a great place to sample a few pints of South African craft beer while tucking into an oversized steak. 

After a leisurely breakfast, grab your camera and hop into your hire car for a tour of Cape Town's scenic suburbs. Drive south to Boulders Beach , home to a colony of endangered African penguins. Here, a boardwalk winds through the nesting site, allowing you to see these comical little birds up close. Next on the itinerary is Hout Bay, a picturesque fishing town accessed by Chapman's Peak Drive—a winding route famous for its stunning cliff views. When you get there, treat yourself to a fresh seafood lunch.

Afterward, it's time to head back to the city center for an afternoon trip to Robben Island . Sightseeing boats leave from the V&A Waterfront, and include a tour of the island on which Nelson Mandela was incarcerated for 18 years. Here, ex-prisoners explain the story behind the world's most notorious prison, and the role it played in South Africa's fight for freedom. When you get back to the Waterfront spend an hour or two strolling the vibrant boardwalk before choosing one of its many restaurants for dinner. 

Check out early and drive west into the world-famous Western Cape winelands. There are three main areas—Stellenbosch, Paarl and Franschhoek, all of them beaming with private wine estates. You can pick one (like the iconic Spier Wine Farm ), and spend the day touring the vineyards, tasting different vintages and dining on fine seasonal cuisine. If you can't decide which estate to visit, consider booking a trip on the Franschhoek Wine Tram. This hop-on, hop-off tour takes you on an unforgettable journey through the mesmerizing scenery of the Franschhoek Valley, stopping along the way for tastings at different estates. Sleep off the day's indulgences at one of the region's luxury hotels.

Your fourth day in South Africa brings you back to the coast—to the idyllic town of Hermanus, known as one of the best whale-watching spots in the southern hemisphere. From July to November, southern right whales can be seen in the town's deep bay, often within a 100 meters of shore. The best place to spot them from is Gearing's Point, a rocky promontory with elevated ocean panoramas. Alternatively, book a whale-watching tour with a local company like Southern Right Charters . Even if you're not traveling during whale season, Hermanus is a worthwhile stop, with a wealth of gourmet restaurants— Burgund y is special not only for its excellent menu but for its seaside views as well. 

Drive east from Hermanus to Mossel Bay, and from there, join up with the Garden Route—a 186 mile/ 300 kilometer stretch of coastline that includes some of the best spots in the Western and Eastern Cape provinces. The beauty of the route is that it allows you to stop wherever you want. Pause in the town of Wilderness for a stroll along the town's beautiful, windswept beach; or sample one of Knysna's famous oyster restaurants. George is home to one of the best golf courses in South Africa, while The Crags is an ideal stop for families thanks to interactive wildlife sanctuaries like Monkeyland and Birds of Eden . The area around The Crags is full of B&Bs, allowing you to get a good night's sleep after a busy day.

Spend a relaxing morning enjoying the South African hospitality at your B&B before continuing northwards towards Port Elizabeth. There are plenty of opportunities for adventure along the way. Stop at Bloukrans Bridge to throw yourself off the world's highest bridge bungee jump ; or park your car and join a ziplining canopy tour in beautiful Tsitsikamma National Park. Jeffreys Bay is also well worth a visit if you have time—especially if you happen to have an interest in surfing. Home to some of the best waves in Africa , this charismatic town has played host to top pros like Kelly Slater, Mick Fanning, and South Africa's own Jordy Smith. Spend the night just north of Port Elizabeth at idyllic Dungbeetle River Lodge . 

Day 7, 8, and 9

No South African adventure would be complete without a safari. Save the best for last by spending your final three days in nearby Addo Elephant Park . It's not as famous or as vast as Kruger National Park, but it is far less crowded. It has the same incredible variety of wildlife—including all of the Big Five. Best of all, Addo is an affordable option for everyone, since it's possible to explore in your own vehicle for a fraction of the cost of a guided game drive.

If you want the expertise of a local tracker, you can still book game drives through your accommodation, or at the main reception. Addo is especially famous for its huge elephant herds—on a hot day, you're likely to see hundreds of them at waterholes like Rooidam and Gwarrie Pan. In addition to lion and leopard, the park also has its fair share of smaller predators —many of them quite rare. Keep an eye out for caracals, aardwolves and bat-eared foxes. 

Sadly, your time in the best country on Earth is coming to a close. Head into Port Elizabeth for one last brunch, before returning your hire car and catching a flight back to Cape Town for your return trip home. Don't be too sad, though—there's still so much of South Africa left to explore that you'll have plenty of reasons to return. 

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South Africa Itinerary: Complete Road Trip in 2 Weeks (+Map & Tips)

By Author Jurga

Posted on Last updated: May 25, 2024

On our first evening of a 2-week road trip in South Africa a hippo walked into the garden of our hotel and quietly grazed by the river as we were having dinner just a few steps away. It was at this moment that we fell in love with Africa. The next day we stood at the Three Rondavels viewpoint of the Panorama Route and my husband said ‘ just when I thought we had seen it all, South Africa proved me wrong… ‘.

South Africa captured our hearts forever and years later it was the first far destination that we visited with our kids, followed by a trip to nearby Namibia and hopefully many more trips to Africa in the future. But it all started with this first trip and so today I want to share our 2-week itinerary for the best of South Africa .

When we first visited South Africa, we only had 15 days to see the best of the country. It’s a big country and, of course, you cannot see everything in just two weeks. But if you are visiting South Africa for the first time and want to see the very best this beautiful country has to offer, then look no further.

This itinerary covers all the main highlights of South Africa , including Kruger Park safari, and shows you the amazing diversity of the Rainbow Nation.

For your convenience, I made a map with our South Africa trip itinerary and also included driving distances/times as well as some tips to help you plan your trip to South Africa. At the bottom of this post, you can also find some practical information for your self-drive trip.

How to use this map:  Use your computer mouse (or fingers) to zoom in or out. Click on the icons to get more information about each place. Click the arrow on the top left corner for the index. Click the star next to the map’s title to add it to your Google Maps account. To view the saved map on your smartphone or PC, open Google Maps, click the menu and go to ‘Your Places’/’Maps’. If you want to print the map or see it in a bigger window, click on ‘View larger map’ in the top right corner.

We booked this holiday inspired by a travel brochure where the trip was called ‘ The World in One Country ‘. And so it was!

If you visit South Africa it will be very difficult to find a destination to match it afterwards. It’s one of the most beautiful and diverse countries you can visit in the world. And if you are looking for an unforgettable trip, then this is as good as it gets!

Without further ado, here’s our two week complete South Africa road trip itinerary starting in Johannesburg and ending in Cape Town . There are many ways to spend two weeks in South Africa and this is just one of them. There is no one best itinerary for South Africa, but if you want to see the best places in South Africa on a two-week vacation, then this comes pretty close. Read on!

Here is our 2-week South Africa itinerary:

Day 1: Arrival in Johannesburg and drive to Kruger NP

We arrived in Johannesburg early in the morning where we picked up our rental car. At first, we were planning to visit the city of Pretoria, but after some consideration, we decided to head straight to our accommodation next to Kruger National Park.

On the way to Kruger, we stopped at Ndebele cultural village in Botshabelo . It’s just a small village-museum where you can visit a few colorful houses and get acquainted with the small Ndbele tribe community. It’s definitely worth a short stop and is a great way to break a long drive.

In the evening we had dinner at our hotel in Hazyview and met our first African wildlife. The hotel is not called ‘Hippo Hollow’ for nothing… Unforgettable experience!

• Driving distance: 424 km – 263 miles – 5 hrs.
• Accommodation:  We stayed 2 nights at the Hippo Hollow Country Estate in Hazyview, just outside Kruger NP. Hazyview is a good base for exploring Panorama Route and Kruger NP and there is a wide range of accommodations available .

Day 2: Panorama Route

If you come to Kruger, don’t miss the Panorama Route . It’s a beautiful area that you can easily explore by car on your own. The main highlights include The Pinnacle, God’s Window, Bourke’s Luck Potholes, and Blyde River Canyon with World’s End and the Three Rondavels. 

Make sure to stop for pancakes at Harrie’s Pancake Bar in Graskop. The nearby Pilgrim’s Rest is a nice small town, a former gold mining village that you could check out as well. Alternatively, you can visit Shangana Cultural Village near Hazyview.

TIP: If you rather not drive yourself, you can book a guided day tour that brings you to all the nicest places in this area.

• Driving distance: 185 km – 115 miles – 3 hrs + stops (count the whole day).

Day 3: Kruger National Park

In order to enjoy a real safari experience in Kruger National Park, we left our car at the hotel and booked a 4×4 guided half-day safari tour of Kruger NP .

It was nice not to have to drive and just enjoy the wildlife and nature around us. The local guide brought us to places that are inaccessible to private vehicles. On top of that, the guides communicate with each other so they know where the animals are.

Despite booking a group tour, we had the whole jeep to ourselves and it was a great first safari experience. We saw four out of the Big 5 of Africa (lion, leopard, rhino, elephant; later on we also saw the Cape buffalo), and lots of other animals including giraffes, baboons, antelopes, crocodiles, hippos, impalas, kudus, wildebeests, hyenas, zebras, etc.

TIP:  It is freezing cold on a safari drive early in the morning, so dress accordingly. We visited in July (winter in South Africa), so we wore warm jackets and we also used the blankets provided by the tour guide. By noon, it was warm enough to just wear a shirt. But even if you visit in summer, the warmth comes and goes together with the sun, so you still need warm clothes for morning safari rides.

LEARN MORE: Safari Tips

We returned to Hazyview for lunch. After that, we picked up our car and drove to Kruger NP ourselves. Kruger is quite easy to explore individually, but you have to stay on the main roads and make sure to not leave your car at any time.

We ran into a whole family of lions with cubs, saw an elephant just next to the road, and many other wild animals.

• Driving distance: morning safari +- 100km – 60 miles – 2-5 hours depending on the stops to watch wildlife.
• Accommodation:  1 night at River House Lodge . You can stay pretty much anywhere in the southern part of Kruger, close to Malelane or Marloth Park. It would fit very well with this itinerary.
• TIP: If you have more time in the area consider staying at least 2-3 nights in Kruger National Park. There are many lodges inside the park, from basic camps to high-end luxury accommodations. Here you can find the best deals for accommodation in different areas in the south of Kruger NP:  Hectorspruit , Skukuza , Sabi Sand Game Reserve , and Marloth Park .

Day 4: Kruger NP – Eswatini (previously Swaziland) – Saint Lucia

We left early in the morning hoping to see some wildlife before leaving Kruger for a long drive towards St Lucia . And we were very lucky again – we saw a group of leopards hunting for breakfast and a herd of elephants pulling out and eating entire bushes…

We then drove in the direction of the border with Eswatini (formerly known as Swaziland ) – the shortest route towards Saint Lucia. The passport control/immigration at the Swaziland border took us a bit longer than expected and after seeing all kinds of warning signs (for cholera, AIDS, and signs like ‘do not open windows or door’) we decided to just drive through without stopping anywhere. The country is beautiful, but also very poor, and many places reminded us of things we saw in India’s poorer regions. 

After a long drive through this smallest country in the Southern Hemisphere, we re-entered South Africa again on our way to  Saint Lucia .

• Driving distance: 440 km – 275 miles – 6 hours.
• Accommodation:  We stayed 2 nights in St Lucia .

Good to know: If you rather not cross any borders, you can drive from Kruger National Park to St Lucia via South African roads. This will add about 1.5-2 hours of driving time.

Day 5: St. Lucia and Hluhluwe–Imfolozi Park

In the morning we again took a guided safari drive to the nearby  Hluhluwe–Imfolozi Park . It’s not as busy as Kruger and we saw fewer animals here, but it was a nice experience with some unforgettable animal encounters.

At one moment we stood eye-to-eye with a huge elephant bull who wanted us to know that we were in his territory. Our big 4WD looked minuscule next to this animal so our driver quietly obeyed and drove back… and back… until the elephant put his foot back on the ground signaling that he wasn’t going to turn our car into a matchbox…

You can also visit this park in your own car, but sometimes it’s really nice not to have to drive and just look for the animals.

We spent the afternoon at the pool of our hotel.

In the late afternoon, we took a boat trip on St. Lucia Lake where we saw hundreds of hippos and crocodiles. We decided not to go for a swim here ;).

Day 6: St. Lucia – Durban

We left Saint Lucia and drove to Durban where we explored the city. The waterfront area of Durban reminded us of Australia’s Surfer’s Paradise: big waves and hundreds of surfers on the beach. Other things to do in Durban include Golden Mile, Indian area, Victoria Street Market, UShaka Marine World.. .

• Driving distance: 245 km – 150 miles – 3 hours.
• Accommodation:  We stayed at the Blue Waters Hotel in Durban for 1 night. Since we are not big fans of cities, we felt that we could have easily skipped Durban altogether and gone straight to the Drakensberg Mountains. On the other hand, the distance would be a bit big meaning you’d spend the whole day in the car. Alternatively, you can also stay at a nearby Umhlanga, a nice holiday town just outside of Durban.

Day 7: Durban – Drakensberg Mountains

Our first stop was Pietermaritzburg , known as the place where Gandhi was thrown of the train because he dared to travel first class as a non-white person. A visit to the city of Pietermaritzburg is an interesting experience. It was the first time we were in a South African city which was not that touristy.

The drive to Drakensbergen is worth a trip in itself – so beautiful. On the road, we also stopped at Howick waterfall .

In the afternoon we made a short sunset walk in the mountains, just next to our hotel. Apart from the fantastic scenery we also encountered a group of baboons.

• Driving distance: 250 km – 155 miles – 3 hours
• Accommodation: We stayed 2 nights in  Gooderson Drakensberg Gardens Golf and Spa Resort . Here you can find more accommodation options in Underberg .

Day 8: Drakensberg Mountains

This was the most relaxing day of the whole trip. We spent the whole day in the proximity of our hotel. We went for a nice walk in the mountains, went horse riding, played some mini-golf, etc.

Alternatively, you could make a day trip to the nearby Kingdom of Lesotho.

TIP: If you decide to visit Lesotho, you may want to do it with a local guide who knows the region well and has a 4×4 vehicle. Here you can book a Lesotho day tour from Underberg .

Day 9: Drakensberg Mountains to Durban. Flight to Port Elizabeth and Garden Route to Knysna

After a relaxing day yesterday, this day was filled with traveling. We left our hotel in the Drakensberg mountains early in the morning (5 AM) in order to catch a flight to Port Elizabeth .

Undredal is not next door to Durban, so it’s quite a far drive of 235 km which takes about 3 hours. If you prefer not to have to drive that far before taking a flight, you may want to stay in Durban one more night.

It was freezing cold this early in the morning: -7°C (19F). Whereas the previous day in Durban it was 23°C (73F). That’s typically Africa – the sun goes down and it gets really cold, no matter the season.

We flew to Port Elizabeth where we picked up another rental car and drove part of the Garden Route to Knysna . We didn’t have much time for sightseeing because we had to reach Knysna before the dark which is around 5.30P M in July. So we only made a short stop at the Storms Point along the way.

• Driving distance: 270 km – 170 miles – 3,5 hours to Durban plus 270 km – 170 miles – 3 hours to Knysna.
• Accommodation: We stayed in Knysna Hollow Country Estate for 3 nights. Knysna is our favorite place along the Garden Route and on our next trip to South Africa, we spent a week there (even contemplating if we shouldn’t move to live here). There is so much to see and do in the area and the town itself is really nice too. If you want to add some days to your South African itinerary, consider staying here longer.

 TIP:  You could skip Drakensberg Mountains if you are short on time or add a day to your itinerary if you don’t want to fly. In that case, count two days to drive from Durban to Port Elizabeth. Sleep in the East London area along the way.

Day 10: Garden Route

As already mentioned, there is a lot to see and do in and near Knysna . On our first day on the Garden Route, we decided to stay close to town.

In the morning we took a boat to the Featherbed Nature Reserve (must do!). In the afternoon we visited Knysna Elephant Park where we could feed the elephants (also a must in Knysna). In the evening we had dinner at one of the many restaurants at Knysna Waterfront .

TIP: One of the nicest things to do in Knysna is to take a boat tour along the beautiful coast. Here you can find a nice selection of boat tours in Knysna .

Day 11: Garden Route

There are many ways to spend an extra day on the Garden Route .

On this first trip in South Africa, we visited an ostrich farm in Oudtshoorn (there are many farms there, some more touristy than others), followed by a visit to Cango Caves .

Alternative things to do along the Garden Route would be visiting Tsitsikamma National Park  (beautiful place), Robberg Nature Reserve  (spectacular hiking along the coast), or places like Monkeyland  (walk among the monkeys in a forest – great for families!) and  Birds of Eden (also great for families), etc.

You can go to the beach, make a safari ride in a private game reserve, watch whales and dolphins, or find a really nice restaurant serving the famous Knysna oysters and South African wine… Whatever your interests, you’ll love the diversity of the Garden Route!

Day 12: Knysna to Cape Town via Cape Agulhas and Hermanus

A very long but beautiful drive from Knysna to Cape Town with a few stops today.

We chose to visit Cape Agulhas , the place where the Indian Ocean meets the Atlantic Ocean. It’s a big detour and a long drive to get here. It felt a bit like being at the end of the world, but we loved it!

Our next stop was Hermanus – the best place for whale watching in South Africa. You can go on the boat and see whales and dolphins up close (we did it on another occasion), but usually you can see some of them from ashore as well.

If you can fit it in your itinerary, make sure to do a whale-watching boat trip . Just book in advance, definitely in high season July through November.

• Driving distance: 500 km – 310 miles – 6 hours to Hermanus. Add another 120 km – 75 miles – 1,5 hrs to Cape Town.
• Accommodation:  We spent 3 nights in Cape Town and stayed at Cape Town Lodge Hotel .

TIP: If I were to do this South Africa trip again, I would opt to spend a night in Hermanus rather than rushing to Cape Town. It’s a long day as it is and Hermanus definitely deserves more time than just a short stop.

Day 13: Cape Peninsula

Cape Peninsula deserves more than a few days! But if you have just one day to explore the area near Cape Town.

As a minimum, try to visit the Boulders Beach penguin colony in Simon’s Town , the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve , drive the scenic Chapman’s Peak Road , and take a boat to the seal colony near Hout Bay . This is a lot for one day, but it’s feasible.

TIP:  If you are staying in the city center and want to return your rental car earlier, you can also visit these places with a guided Cape Point tour from Cape Town .

Day 14: Cape Town

One day in Cape Town is really short. Here are the highlights that you should try to visit even if you only have a day: Table Mountain , Signal Hill , Victoria & Alfred Waterfront area, colorful houses of Bo-Kaap , and also the city center.

If you have time, take a boat to nearby Robben Island . It’s the place where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for many years.

TIP: Consider leaving your car and taking a hop-on hop-off bus to explore the city. It’s one of the most convenient and cheapest ways to travel around Cape Town. Car parking is not easy to find in town and the distances are quite big.

Day 15: Cape Town and departure

Depending on your departure time you could visit some of the places that you didn’t manage to see the previous days. There is so much to see and do in Cape Town!

We loved the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens just outside the city. A visit to the Stellenbosh wine region is also a popular (half-)day trip from Cape Town.

Here you can also find the most popular and best-rated day trips from Cape Town:  Cape Winelands and wine tasting tours that visit Franschhoek, Paarl, and Stellenbosch areas.

Practical information for a self-drive road trip in South Africa

• You can easily rent a car and explore South Africa individually. Here you can find some of the best deals for car rental . Be sure to take full insurance!
• You don’t need a 4WD for South Africa as the main roads are all paved and generally in very good condition.
• At the time of writing, you can drive in South Africa with any driver’s license that is printed in English. Otherwise, you should obtain an International Driver’s License before your trip.
• You can make this trip in any season. We traveled in July when it was winter in South Africa.
• Consider that the distances are big and if you are really short on time it’s probably better to fly from the north of the country to the south.
• Is it safe to travel in South Africa on your own? While not the safest country in the world, South Africa can easily be explored on your own. Just use your common sense, read the signs, avoid township areas, and don’t drive at night.
• Don’t drive around in the dark unless you absolutely have to. In some areas, you may encounter wild animals or dogs crossing the roads, and there are also often people walking next to the road, so driving after dark isn’t a great idea.

If you have any questions that I forgot to cover, please leave a comment below and I’ll do my best to help.

So, this was our itinerary visiting the best places in South Africa in two weeks. There are many ways to spend your vacation in this beautiful country, but this gives you a good idea of what can be done in a relatively short time.

Note that this trip is quite rushed, so you will not see everything. One thing is for sure – it will definitely leave you wanting to return. But then you get acquainted with so many different regions of South Africa in a short time and when you go back you can choose to explore certain areas deeper.

As for us, we went back to South Africa after this trip and spent two weeks just in the South part of the country (Garden Route and Cape Peninsula). You can find this family-friendly South Africa trip description in our article South Africa with kids and here you can find some of our favorite photos from South Africa . We cannot wait to return again!

READ ALSO: Best Places to Visit in South Africa

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Tuesday 19th of July 2022

Hi Jurga, Did you pre book all your accomodation or just turn up and book on the day ? Seems a very complex job to book all 2 week's accomodation. Also wouldn't give any scope for changing itinery en route ??

@Jurga, Thanks for the reply - makes a lot of sense.

Hi Guy, we travel with kids during school holidays, so yes, we always pre-book everything. To us, it seems much more complex to do it last-minute where you have to spend time looking at what's available for the night rather than simply enjoy your day knowing that you'll have a place to sleep no matter when you actually get there. It also allows you to plan some extra activities for the 'free' days in between. If you are completely flexible and travel in the low season, I guess you could just go with the flow, definitely in the places where there are plenty of accommodation options. However, for the more remote areas, I'd recommend booking in advance. PS We book all our accommodations via Booking.com and try to take flexible booking/cancelation options, which usually means that we can still change plans if absolutely need be. But in the end, we rarely change anything because it's so much easier to follow a planned itinerary when you are short on time and want to make the most of your trip. Of course, everyone travels differently and I totally see how in some situations it would be nice to keep all the options open... Good luck!

Monday 23rd of August 2021

As a South African, I just have to say this is brilliant. than you SO much for sharing all this information!

Tuesday 24th of August 2021

Thanks for your feedback, Judy. Happy travels!

Wednesday 26th of May 2021

Hi there, awesome article! We loved reading every bit of it. We plan to visit around June 13th 2022 and plan to have about 2 weeks as well. We're thinking of following a similar route to yours but wanted to know more about weather conditions for you. I've read other places that you want to stay away from the Garden route and western cape in the winter months because of rain, risk of flooding and overall not great weather. WAs that you experience?

Hello. We did this particular trip in the first half of July, so about the same time when you're planning to travel. While it may not be ideal for Cape Town/ Garden Route, it's a great time for watching animals in Kruger National Park. And you really never know how the weather will be anyway. In Kruger, we had great weather. Cold nights and warm days. Usually needed a sweater or a long-sleeve shirt during the day. The same in all the other areas in the North, apart from Durban where we had t-shirt weather. It was freezing in the mountains (Drakensberg) at night, but the days were nice. In Knysna/ Garden Route we had nice sunny weather and temperatures of about 15-18°C if I recall well. We usually wore a light sweater there. In Cape Town, we had lots of wind and some rain too, and really needed warm jackets and sweaters. I even bought a warm fleece hat. The only thing we couldn't do at that time was going to the top of Table Mountain because the gondola was closed due to high winds, but for the rest, the weather really wasn't an issue. If you want to be 100% sure that you get good weather, then this is not the best time for the south coast. We once traveled there in November and that was a great time with lots of sunshine and warmth (but lots of wind too). I, personally, would do this exact same trip at any time of the year without hesitation. You can never foresee how the weather is, so pack clothes for any weather (layers are best) and make the best of what you get! Hope this helps.

Wednesday 10th of February 2021

Hi! I went to South Africa (the southern part only) in 2015, I loved it! I'm thinking to return around easter of 2022 (for better temperatures than July). Have you visited Johannesburg, Pretoria or Soweto? I wonder if they are as dangerous as some people say. In my first trip in South Africa I was not scared once. We did not leave or hotel in Cape Town after dark tho. Thanks!

Thursday 11th of February 2021

Hi Benedikt, we've only shortly passed the area from Johannesburg airport on the way to Kruger National Park. We chose not to visit the cities (nothing specific to S-A, we are just more nature people), so I have no personal experience. One thing that we noticed around Johannesburg were warnings not to stop on the highway for any reason and not to take any hitchhikers, but this was years ago. I have no idea how the situation is there now. We didn't really feel unsafe, but just seeing those signs gave us an impression that it was probably not the safest area... Cape Town feels very different indeed and there we have been out and about after the dark too and never felt unsafe. I'm sure that it will be a very different experience visiting Johannesburg or Pretoria than more rural areas of South Africa or Cape Town, but I think it's definitely worth it if you enjoy visiting cities, learning more about history, etc. Just use common sense, stay in the tourist areas, ask locals for safety advice, etc. - just as you'd do in most other big cities in the world.

Sunday 31st of January 2021

Hi, we planning on following most of your itenery but skipping the garden route as we have seen that many times before. What type of did you rent... Was it a sedan or an suv/4x4. Is it not necessary to get a 4x4 if we plan on doing guided tours where you mentioned in the blog? Thanks and appreciate your blog

Friday 5th of February 2021

Hi Zahir, sorry for the late reply - crazy busy. We never rented a 4x4 in South Africa. Since we travel with kids and have quite a few bags, we usually take an SUV. You also sit higher and see more. So it's not that much for the roads, but for more space and comfort. A regular car is perfectly ok for this itinerary as well.

South Africa Road Trip – One Month Itinerary

Updated August 2, 2020

// By Margherita

Are you planning a South Africa road trip? This monster post will tell you all you need to know about our 1 month South Africa itinerary, to help plan your very own South Africa road trip!

South Africa is probably the world’s best road trip destination. The roads are (mostly) in great conditions, points of interest are not too far from one another, drivers have great road manners, and traffic in cities is usually ok – with Johannesburg as a notable exception.

Driving around South Africa you’ll encounter a variety of sights and landscapes – from stunning Cape Town and its surf beaches , to the Garden Route with its adventure activities, the unspoiled Wild Coast , national parks like Addo and world-famous Kruger and the Drakensberg Mountains , one of South Africa’s UNESCO-heritage sites.

Renting a car in South Africa is definitely the best way to move around the country – public transport is available, but tends to connect major cities – and half the fun of driving around South Africa is stopping at national parks, coastal villages, coffee shops and other sights located away from major cities.

South Africa is also a massive country, and figuring out where to go and what to see is a very difficult task. That’s why we decided to share our South Africa road trip 1 month itinerary with you , including tips on how to plan a South Africa road trip and how to rent a car in South Africa , and some practical advice on driving around the country.

How to Plan a South Africa Road Trip

Where to go.

The most popular itinerary for a road trip around South Africa is from Cape Town to Johannesburg , or vice versa. There are pros and cons to doing the trip in either direction – starting in Joburg and ending in Cape Town you kind of ‘save the best till last’, and start with longer driving days. However, Cape Town is a much gentler introduction to South Africa compared to Johannesburg – but from Johannesburg it’s easier to visit places like Botswana and Victoria Falls . Ultimately, driving either way is fine!

You can road trip South Africa year round , with every season offering positive and negative points. Don’t forget that South Africa is in the Southern Hemisphere, and seasons are the opposite of Europe/North America. Summer (Dec/Mar) is the hottest time of the year, but it’s also wet and humid in the north – spotting wildlife in places like Kruger becomes hard as animals retreat deeper into the bush.

Winter (Jun/Sept) can be chilly, but it’s also the best time for safaris and to spot whales – however, it can be really rainy, especially around the Western Cape.

Spring and Autumn are good compromises – we did our road trip around South Africa from late April to late May, a time known in the South African tourism industry as ‘secret season’ , with great weather and not too many people on the roads. One final warning – South Africans are frequent domestic travellers so make sure to avoid school holidays when heading to the most famous South Africa points of interest like Cape Town, Kruger or the Garden Route.

How to Rent a Car in South Africa

Renting a car in South Africa is simple, straightforward and affordable. We chose to rent from Around About Cars , a Cape Town-based operator that offered great rates even for a one-way rental. Book online to get great deals – we only paid 3500 rand (about €220) for a 26-day rental.

Don’t forget to sign up for all-inclusive insurance when you collect your rental vehicle – if you’re planning to drive in the Eastern Cape, roads are in less-than-ideal-conditions, and tire damage may occur.

We rented a Kia Picanto , the smallest and cheapest car model. The car was fine to drive along the whole itinerary, as long as you exercise caution on country roads. The boot of the car was quite small but we’re light packers, and we had more than enough space.

You’ll need a driving licence (naturally) and embossed credit card to rent a vehicle from Around About Cars. A 3000 rand (€190) deposit is blocked from your credit card when you collect your car, and it is then released about a week after you return it.

If you’re planning to drive into Lesotho, Swaziland, Botswana or Namibia , make sure you inform the car hire office before you collect the vehicle, so that specific paperwork can be prepared.

Where to Stay

There’s a great range of accommodation options in South Africa – from campsites and bare-bones hostels (known as ‘backpackers’ in South Africa) to 5 star hotel and luxury lodges, and anything in between. We stayed in lots of different places, always trying to find something unique. Our accommodation options included an Airbnb villa in Cape Town, boutique hotels, design hostels and even a ‘train’ . If you’re planning visit national parks, we recommend booking accommodation INSIDE the park – chalets and cabins are usually moderately-priced and offer the opportunity to stay in the park after closing times.

We included tips on where to stay in the description of each road trip stage.

How Much Does it Cost to Road Trip South Africa

If you manage to get a good deal or if several people share a car, road tripping South Africa is quite affordable. As I mentioned above, we paid 3500 rand for our car rental, to which we added approximately another 1000 rand or so for extra insurance. Filling up cost about 400 rand. Most highways are free, with the exceptions of a few toll booths.

Accommodation costs varied dramatically, as we stayed in lots of different places – if you’re on a budget, there are lots of great hostels , offering dorm beds for as little as 150 rand and double rooms from 500 onwards. Most hostels also offer cooking facilities and budget communal dinners.

A big part of your South Africa travel budget should be allocated to activities – the Garden Route is South Africa’s adventure hotspot, and you can go hiking, canoeing, bungee jumping, white water rafting, surfing, sand boarding, canopying, rappelling… you name it. There are also many private nature reserves offering game drives, but the cheapest way to see animals is to drive yourself around national parks.

Where to Go? Our South Africa Road Trip Itinerary

We started our South Africa road trip in Cape Town, the ‘Mother City’ . The city is one of the most spectacular we’ve ever seen, surrounded by ocean and dominated by the mighty frame of Table Mountain . We spent 5 days at the start our road trip, and another 5 days at the end of our three months in Southern Africa, and only managed to see a fraction of Cape Town’s sights and attractions.

Regardless of how long you have, make sure you go on some day trips from Cape Town to the Cape Peninsula , to enjoy some great nature and fantastic hikes right on the city’s doorstep. Here’s a quick rundown of what we did in Cape Town during our stay, but trust me, the list is by no means exhaustive!

Muizenberg –  the city’s most popular surf beach on the Cape Peninsula, ideal for a surf lesson and to visit the famous colourful beach huts.

Cape Point Nature Reserve –  a protected nature reserve on the southern tip of Cape Peninsula, including Cape of Good Hope, the Cape Point lighthouse and lots of hiking trails.

Simon’s Town –  the best place to see African penguins. Don’t miss having a swim at stunning Boulders Beach.

Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens –  the best place to learn about fynbos, a type of vegetation that is unique to the Cape. This large park is a short drive from the city centre, and there are some hiking trails taking you all the way to the summit of Table Mountain.

Bo Kaap –  the colourful Malay neighbourhood is a must visit for Insta-perfect shots and to enjoy unique Cape Malay cuisine, product of South Africa’s multicultural heritage.

Waterfront –  Cape Town’s harbour, now reconverted as a tourist attraction with bars, restaurants, sightseeing cruises and two markets – the V&A Waterfront Food Market with quality street food stalls and the Watershed with local arts and crafts (great place to buy souvenirs!)

Robben Island –  don’t miss visiting the former maximum security prison where Nelson Mandela and many others were held during apartheid. Tours depart daily from the Waterfront and include ferry transport, a bus tour of the island and visit to the prison guided by a former inmate.

Long Street –  Cape Town’s most famous nightlife hangout, with cool bars and restaurants and a really fun vibe.

Table Mountain –  you can hike to the top of Cape Town’s most famous landmark, or take the cable car to the summit and hike around the top.

Lion’s Head –  if hiking to the top of Table Mountain sounds too exhausting, Lion’s Head is a good alternative – it’s about half as high as Table Mountain and the hike up takes only about an hour. As an added bonus, you’ll be able to enjoy amazing

Where to Stay in Cape Town

We stayed in two different places  – this amazing Airbnb villa in Scarborough , a surfer’s town on the Cape Peninsula, and Once in Cape Town , a design hostel a short hop from Long Street.

Stellenbosch

Distance – about 50 km from Cape Town.

Not much of a drive, right? Stellenbosch is Cape Town’s fun alter ego , a town with a lively student population and an excellent food and wine scene. It’s the capital of South Africa’s Winelands and a must visit for wine connoisseurs – and even if you don’t like wine, as there’s plenty to see and do.

If you’re pressed with time (but you like adventure), a bike and wine tour is a fun way to visit Stellenbosch and the winelands. Other places we recommend visiting are Vergenoegd Wine Estate , famous for the ‘duck parade’, where we had a coffee blending experience, and Middelvlei , where we enjoyed a lunchtime braai and wine blending experience.

If you want to learn more about local life in Stellenbosch you can join a tour of Kayamandi, the largest township in the area, including a walking tour and a home-cooked dinner. Check our our Stellenbosch post for more info!

Where to stay in Stellenbosch

Majeka House is a luxury boutique hotel that won many awards for its eclectic design and decor. If you want to stay on a working wine estate, you can opt for L’Avenir , offering stunning suites with plunge pools on deck and excellent customer service.

Distance –  95 km along the N2 and R43, 120 km via Pringle Bay/Cape Whale Coast (recommended in winter for whale watching!)

Hermanus is a cute coastal town, famous for being one of the best places in the world for whale watching during the winter season, when Southern right whales come to breed on the waters just opposite the town. We visited Hermanus for Walker Bay Xtreme , an extreme sports festival held in late April.

Even if you’re not in South Africa in winter, Hermanus is worth a visit because of its stunning coastal drives like the Whale Coast Route , hugging the coast from Hermanus to Gordon’s Bay.

Where to stay in Hermanus

The Whale Coast Hotel has self-catering apartments in a convenient location not far from the coast. Apartments are comfortable and bright, with a balcony and great views – the apartment we stayed at spelt four and even had two separate bathrooms. The hotel is adjacent to a shopping centre with a supermarket and liquor store, a perfect choice if you’re self-catering.

Distance – 140 km direct, 230 km via Cape L’Agulhas (Africa’s southernmost point).

After leaving Hermanus, we headed to the Garden Route, the 300-km stretch of coastal road between Mossel Bay and Storms River, including some of South Africa’s top sights and adventure activities . Before heading the Garden Route ‘proper’, we stopped in Swellendam, a lovely country town offering a blend of nature, adventure and rural life.

There are two options to reach Swellendam from Hermanus – following the N2, the most direct route, or taking a detour via L’Agulhas , the southernmost point in the African continent. L’Agulhas is a wild place – the world agulhas means needles in Portuguese, after the rocky outcrops all around the cape. Add strong winds and waves, and there you have it – it’s a magical place to stand on, imagining the entirety of Africa stretching behind you.

In Swellendam, we spent two days hiking, swimming and kayaking around Buffelsjag Dam and enjoying delicious cuisine – the dinner we had at Field and Fork was one of the best during our entire stay in the country. Other activities on offer in Swellendam include mountain biking around Marloth Nature Reserve, horse riding and microlight flights – we were scheduled to go on one, but sadly the weather let us down.

Where to stay in Swellendam

We stayed at Umshanti Cottages , in cute self-catering cottages walking distance away from Buffelsjag Dam. Kayaks are available for free and there are some nice waterfalls a short paddle away. The owner of Umshanti also organises braai evening on a barge sailing around the dam, as well as microlight flights.

Distance –  168 km direct, 310 km via Oudtshoorn (R62)

Mossel Bay is where the Garden Route officially begins. It’s a pretty seaside town with a wide, sandy beach that seemed to have good surf. You can also go sand boarding, hike or ride a mountain bike to nearby Cape St.Blaise, or just enjoy the vibe for a few days. We also recommend having dinner at Café Gannet , a tasty seafood restaurant where we had a delicious tiger roll and salmon parcels in creamy mushroom sauce – another one of our top South African dinners!

There are two options to reach Mossel Bay from Swellendam – the first is following the N2 all the way, taking about two hours. A good intermediate stop is Heidelberg , a town with some pretty cool street art. The most scenic option is heading to Oudtshoorn on the R62, one of South Africa’s most scenic roads crossing the Little Karoo, a rocky and desert area. Then you can either stay in Oudtshoorn and visit the stunning Cango Caves , or head southwards to Mossel Bay.

We opted for the first route, as it was already afternoon when we left Swellendam and didn’t want to drive in the dark. However, if we went back to South Africa, we’d check out the R62 for sure!

Where to stay in Mossel Bay

To be honest, the reason why we decided to spend a night in Mossel Bay was staying at Santos Express , a hostel located in an actual TRAIN. I’m a train freak and I simply couldn’t resist, so I decided to splurge on a ‘luxury suite’ for one night – a vintage train car from the 1920s, complete with private bathroom and a deck overlooking the beach.

Plettenberg Bay/Tsitsikamma

Distance –  140 km following the N2

Once you hit the Garden Route, deciding where to stop is likely to be a challenge. Shall we check out the sand boarding in Sedgefield ? Or the famous Knysna Heads ? Or why not evocatively-named Wilderness ? Every town and village along the Garden Route seemed to have something special to offer, and one could truly spend weeks exploring it all.

However, I’m not a fan of packing and unpacking every day, so we decided to base ourselves in the Plettenberg Bay/Tsitsikamma area for a few days . There’s plenty to do – here’s our things to do in Plettenberg Bay and Tsistikamma post if you want to know more.

Some of our favourite activities in the area included the canopy tour in Tsitsikamma, hiking Robberg Nature Reserve and visiting a trio of animal sanctuaries – Jukani, Birds of Eden and Monkeyland.

Where to stay in Plett

We split our stay between two places – charming Kurland , a luxury property where guests are accommodated in Cape Dutch villas and invited to enjoy afternoon tea and scones by the fire (in winter, of course) and Nectar Cottage , a funky A-frame cottage in the heart of Nature’s Valley, perfect for a secluded family stay.

Jeffrey’s Bay

Distance –  164 km following the N2

Leaving Plett and heading east, you’ll leave the Western Cape and enter the Eastern Cape province – there’s a tollbooth where vehicles are required to pay a 45 rand toll. At the border between the two provinces you’ll also find the famous Bloukrans Bridge , home to one of the highest bungee jumps in the world. The bridge spans a spectacular gorge, and it is worth a stop even if you’re not jumping – you can just sit with a drink, enjoy the landscape and cheer the daredevils!

After stopping in Bloukrans, we powered on to Jeffrey’s Bay, also known as J-Bay , South Africa’s surf capital. We visited in mid-May and the weather was less than ideal for surfing, with some really choppy waves, but we still managed to catch some breaks. We also joined a tour to a nearby farm where we went cliff-jumping and zip lining near a waterfall, and then finished off the day with sunset paddle boarding… which was fun, until the wind started blowing and we had to paddle against the current.

Where to stay in Jeffrey’s Bay

In J-Bay we stayed at Island Vibe , the top hostel and surf school right on the beach. We visited in May, when the weather was less than ideal, and the hostel wasn’t at all full – apparently in summer it’s crazy busy, but the vibe can’t be beaten. Island Vibe has an excellent restaurant onsite , serving a selection of breakfast dishes, wraps, pizzas and a very affordable dish of the day. Just one word of warning – if you’re found sitting around the bar in the evening, the staff will invite you to join a game of beer pong, and it might get messy!

Addo Elephant Park

Distance – 115 km to the southern gate of the park  

Initially, our plan was heading to Port Elizabeth – then we found out that Addo Elephant Park was one of the best places in South Africa for a self drive safari , so we decided to head there instead.

Addo is South Africa’s third largest national park, but it’s tiny compared to Kruger, over 10 times smaller. On one hand, that makes it easier to spot animals – on the other, there are far fewer animals compared to Kruger. Addo has about 120 km of unpaved roads suitable to all cars , one north-south road and several loops running off the sides. You can drive at will between sunrise and sunset, but when it gets dark you either have to be out of the park, or in your camp area if you’re staying inside the park.

We spent one night in Addo , and reached the park in the early afternoon. We spent the first day driving around the southern section of the park, and we spotted several elephants, kudu, zebras, buffaloes and even a honey badger. The second day, we slowly made our way towards the north of the park, driving all the loops we could find – we were trying to find some lions but we couldn’t see any. Instead, we saw several more boks and elephants.

If you’re planning to self-drive Addo , check out our post about Etosha National Park in Namibia – the two parks are completely different, but we include some self-driving safari tips which could be helpful.

Where to stay in Addo

Having booked very last minute, we only found room at Matyholweni camp , in the southern part of the park. We stayed in a ‘Family Chalet’, sleeping two adults and two children in a large room with kitchenette. The chalet had a thatched roof, a nice balcony and braai facilities. All in all, we were happy with our choice!

Distance –  228 km from the northern gate of the park

When we left Addo, everything changed . Gone were the wide, well-maintained roads of the Western Cape, with their good asphalt surfaces and passing lanes – welcome to the Wild Coast , the unspoilt and sparsely-populated region between Post Elizabeth and Durban.

The region is also known as the ‘Transkei’ – many people will warn you not to visit , citing poor road condition and crime as possible dangers. We totally agree that roads were passable at best, and we didn’t experience any crime. The area was definitely rougher around the edges, ‘wilder’ and with a much more distinct African feel compared to Cape Town and the Western Cape. We really recommend visiting, both to learn about Xhosa culture, and to enjoy wonderful nature.

Our first stop was Hogsback , a hippie town surrounded by forests and waterfalls in the heart of the Amathole mountains. The name ‘Hogsback’ comes from the fact that one of the mountains overlooking the village resembles a ‘hog’s back’ when seen from a certain direction – to be honest, I think whoever came up with this idea had one too many.

Hogsback is another great place to enjoy adventure. You can hike a multi-day trail over the Amathole Mountains, go mountain biking around the village, go hunting for waterfalls and even rappel down the stunning ‘Madonna and Child’ waterfall.

Another cool place to visit in the Hogsback area is Elundini, a traditional Xhosa village where you can learn about traditional culture while staying at Elundini Backpackers , a hostel opened by a local family. We didn’t stay in Elundini, but we spent a day in the village and learnt how to make bread Xhosa-style!

Where to stay in Hogsback

Book this place right now! Away with the Fairies is a true dream, a real hideaway in the heart of nature, the kind of place where you just keep extending your stay and never want to leave. There are dorms, doubles, cottages and campsites to choose from, and even ‘Acorn House’, a secluded house away from the main building with a fantastic view over the Hogsback mountains. There are plans to turn Acorn House into a holistic center – I can just imagine it will be amazing!

The most famous feature of Away with the Fairies is the cliff bath , a wood-heated bathtub located on the edge of a hill with a real million dollar view. All guests are free to access the cliff bath and enjoy half an hour of pure bliss surrounded by nature – just don’t forget to book your slot as soon as you arrive, especially in high season!

Two other great reasons to stay at Away with the Fairies are having a yoga lesson or massage with Miki, the amazing resident masseuse. If she’s there when you get to Hogsback, don’t miss booking a massage with her! And last but not least…. PIZZA. The pizza at Away with the Fairies was simply epic. I still dream of it, and I live in Italy. Need I say more?

Distance – 180 km via King William’s Town

After Hogsback, we headed to the Wild Coast proper. Our first stop was Chintsa, a beachside village about 50 km east from East London . When we got to Chintsa, travelling fatigue hit us and we spent a couple of days enjoying beachside walks, rest and silence – so, unfortunately, I can’t say much about activities in the area.

However, if you want to ‘get busy’ during your stay in the region, there are plenty of choices – surf lessons, volunteering opportunities with a local school, Xhosa cultural tours and even visit or stay at nearby Inkwenkwezi Game Reserve – we spoke to some fellow travellers who described game drives as ”phenomenal’.

Where to stay in Chintsa

Bucccaneers is an excellent hostel a short walk away from the beach, organising a variety of activities and some tasty communal dinners.

Distance –  263 km via Butterworth/Mqanduli

Oh, Coffee Bay! That’s another one of those places I’d love to disappear to – kind of like Jericoacoara or Jyrgalan , to give you an idea. Coffee Bay is truly a place to take a holiday from your holiday , to slow down for a few days and enjoy beach life, surfing and nature.

The stretch of coast between Coffee Bay and Port St Johns is one of the most scenic in South Africa, and really puts the ‘wild’ into Wild Coast . Roads are further inland, so the only way to move between coastal villages is hiking. There’s a wonderful 5 day hike that can be done between Coffee Bay and Port St Johns, and a shorter two-day version stopping in Bulungula. Given our love for long distance hiking , why didn’t we do it? Because we were told that in May, the chances of rain are quite high – but guess what, we had sunshine and bright skies for our whole stay on the wild coast.

Things to do in Coffee Bay include surfing – the Coffee Shack, where we stayed, organises surfing lessons for just 50 rand per person, so if Cape Town prices are too high for you, this is your chance! You can also join day or evening village trips to learn more about Xhosa culture, as well as day hikes to the Hole in the Wall , a spectacular rock formation along the coast, and to the nearby Mpuzi cliffs and caves , where you can also do some cliff jumps if you dare!

Where to stay in Coffee Bay

Coffee Shack , where else! This hostel is one of the friendliest places we stayed at during our month-long South Africa road trip, and the vibe is relaxed and welcoming. As supporters of sustainable travel we appreciated the environmental focus of Coffee Shack – visitors and staff are invited to recycle, and management supports several community projects.

Distance – about 600 km via the stunning Maloti Route

This is the longest drive of the whole trip – in hindsight, it’s probably better to divide it into two stages, perhaps stopping in the vicinity of Aliwal North. If you’re set on wanting to do it in one day, we recommend leaving early – it’s always better not to drive at night, and most border posts between South Africa and Lesotho are NOT open 24 hours . The border post at Maseru Bridge is the only one open round the clock, as far as we know. We used the Van Rooyens Gate border post, open until 10 pm . The most direct route was via the Sephapos border, but it closes at 4 pm and we were too late.

Leaving Coffee Bay, head north to Mthatha, then keep heading northwest until you hit a town called Ugie, where you’ll notice mountains looming in the distance. Shortly after passing Ugie the stunning Maloti Route begins , a scenic road that circles around the southern and western border of Lesotho. Follow the Maloti Route all the way to the Van Rooyens Gate border (or Sephapos, if you’re there in time) and then that’s it, you’re into Lesotho.

Where to stay in Lesotho

We opted to spend three days at Malealea Lodge , a fantastic eco-lodge running a variety of community projects. You can also hike, go on pony treks or mountain bike rides , with locals as your guides. Here is our 3 days in Lesotho post if you want to know more.

Getting to Malealea is straightforward if you follow the directions provided on the website. The last 7 km are on a twisty, potholed, unpaved mountain road, crossing a 2000 m pass – it can be done in a regular car, but please pay attention and try to avoid driving in the dark.

Johannesburg & Soweto

Distance – about 500 km via the N1

After leaving Lesotho, it’s another full day drive to Johannesburg, entering South Africa at Maseru Bridge and then heading towards Johannesburg on the N1. Two tips for this stretch – first, try to avoid peak hours driving around Maseru and crossing at Maseru Bridge, because both Lesotho’s capital and the border post are very busy. Second, try to avoid driving around Johannesburg . Traffic is crazy, and it can be very, very stressful. If you need to drop off your rental car, do it at the airport and catch an Uber or the Gautrain into town.

We weren’t sure we would like Johannesburg, and we debated whether or not to stop until the very last minute – then we decided to spend 48 hours in Johannesburg and Soweto , and we’re glad we did. Here’s a quick rundown of what to see in Joburg!

Johannesburg CBD –  the former centre of economic life in town, all but abandoned in the 1980s, and now being slowly renovated. It’s worth a visit for the strange mix of street markets surrounded by skyscrapers and Victorian buildings.

Maboneng – right next to the CBD, this was one of Joburg’s first neighbourhoods to be regenerated. It’s now a hangout for local hipsters and tourists, with artisan coffee shops, breweries, craft markets and lots of independent stores.

Braamfontein –  this ‘hood has a similar vibe to Maboneng, but it’s located on the opposite side of Park Station, about 15-20 min walk away. We loved having dinner and catching a concert at the Orbit, a super cool jazz club.

Apartheid Museum –  together with Robben Island and Soweto, a visit to the Apartheid Museum is a must if you want to learn more about this terrible period of South African history.

SAB World of Beer – one of the world’s largest beer museums, with a fun exhibition and beer tastings.

Soweto –  whether you opt to stay in Soweto, or just visit for the day, we recommend joining a Soweto bike tour guided by locals – we did the full day tour and loved it.

Where to stay in Johannesburg and Soweto

We divided our stay between two different places – Once in Joburg , a cool design hotel in Braamfontein, and Lebo’s Soweto Backpackers , a family-run Soweto hostel that has become a meeting point for the whole community. Lebo’s also runs the Soweto bike tours we recommended.

Beyond Joburg

After leaving Joburg, we spent 10 days in the Greater Kruger region where we had a  safari/volunteering experience , and we also visited the world’s largest rhino sanctuary . We didn’t include this part of the trip in this road-trip itinerary as we didn’t road-trip there – however, we do recommend visiting Kruger, you can’t miss it!

If you have time, we also recommend heading next door to Namibia – we were tired of driving so we opted to overland. Here is our article with 19 reasons to visit Namibia on an overland safari if you needed more convincing!

South Africa Road Trip Practical Tips

Allow for delays –  you’ll notice I didn’t give any time estimates throughout this article – that is because driving times around South Africa can vary dramatically depending on traffic, potholes, accidents, road works, road blocks… you name it. Google Maps always underestimates driving time, and so do locals when you ask them – if they say 3 hours it’s likely to take you 5. So, make sure you always allow for extra time!

Don’t drive at night –  especially in the Eastern Cape. Roads are rarely lit and almost always unfenced, and animals sometimes stray into the road.

Have cash on you –  South Africa is usually quite card-friendly, but if you stop for petrol or snacks in some remote places cards may not be accepted, or connection might be bad. Having some cash will come in handy.

Tip parking guards and petrol station attendants –  it’s customary to tip parking guards and petrol station staff after they fill your car. About 2-5 rand is fair – or you can give more if they’re very helpful.

Beware of the state of the roads –  roads are in good conditions between Cape Town and Port Elizabeth, then they get worse the deeper you get into the Eastern Cape. Get ready for potholes, uneven surfaces and even unpaved roads. In the Eastern Cape, roadworks are also frequent and they’re often accompanied by traffic standstills lasting up to 2-3 hours – make sure you factor this possibility into your driving time.

Have your documents in order – there are frequent police checks on the road, and having your driving licence and car documents easy to get will save you a lot of headache. I mentioned it above but I’ll say it again – if you are planning to cross into Lesotho, make sure you let your rental car company know, as they need to prepare extra paperwork.

Use a GPS/Google Maps (with caution) –  if you’re a map noob like me, having a GPS or Google Maps will help. However, Google Maps is notoriously unreliable in South Africa, so make sure you always double check pin location with directions on your hotel/hostel website.

Learn passing etiquette –  South Africans are very polite and respectful on the road. If a vehicle is driving slowly, they’ll usually pull onto the shoulder to let you pass. After you pass them, it’s customary to say ‘thank you’ by flashing your hazard lights – the vehicle that let you pass will reply ‘you’re welcome’ with a quick flash of their high beams. Now that you know, try it!

Lean the South African lingo – if you ask for directions and the answer is ‘turn right at the robot’ don’t worry, you don’t have to go looking for Optimus Prime – in South Africa, robots are traffic lights! A bakkie is a pick up truck and if someone says they’ll be with you ‘just now’, don’t expect them to arrive anytime soon!

We would like to thank Around About Cars offering a discounted rate on our car rental. Some of the accommodation and activities we mentioned were sponsored, others were discounted, and for some we paid for in full. However, this doesn’t influence our opinions. We loved  our South Africa road trip, and we miss the country and our friends tremendously.   

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4 thoughts on “South Africa Road Trip – One Month Itinerary”

Great Itinerary. Would really love to try it soon 🙂 However how safe is it ?

We found South Africa to be mostly safe. We exercised the same amount of caution as we do in Europe, but we avoided driving at night.

WOW What a post!! Very well done. I’m hoping to make it SA next year, and this will definitely come in handy. I love a good road trip, and know it would be amazing.

Thanks so much Dave! I am glad you found this post useful.

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Garden Route South Africa: Road Trip Itinerary Planning

The Garden Route South Africa is the country’s most iconic road trip. The full Garden Route stretches from the cosmopolitan city of Cape Town to the friendly town of Port Elizabeth. It winds past beautiful beaches, staggering cliff drops and peaceful beachside communities.

The epic road trip is one of the most popular things to do in South Africa. And for good reason. Whether it’s a honeymoon, a road trip with friends or a wonderful family holiday, it has something for everyone. There is simply so much to do en route. You could drive the Garden Route time and time again, and still do different activities every single time.

Best of all, the Garden Route is a great self-drive adventure. Whilst you can take bus services or organised tours, such as this one, you can definitely self-drive the Garden Route. So in this guide, I’ve listed top things to do along the Garden Route. I’ve also included suggestions of places to stay and to eat, all within an itinerary for driving the Garden Route.

Essential information: Garden Route South Africa

You can of course start the route in either direction. But for the purpose of this blog post, this itinerary will start in Cape Town and end in Port Elizabeth. More officially, the Garden Route actually starts in Mossel Bay (387km outside of Cape Town). And it finishes in Storms River (166km from Port Elizabeth). The distance between Mossel Bay and Storms River is actually only between 200km and 300km, depending on the route take. If you drove the official Garden Route from start to finish, this would only take you between 2-3 hours. So you can really see how many amazing attractions and places to visit are concentrated in this relatively small area.

However, this 7-day Garden Route itinerary could be squeezed into just 3 or 4 days if needed. But it’s more common to spend at least a week driving the Garden Route. There’s certainly enough to do to in two weeks, or even longer!

Best time of year to explore the Garden Route

As with everywhere along the coast in South Africa, the spring and summer months are the best time to visit. This is from around October to April. Daily average temperatures during this time range from 24c and 30c, and you can expect long sunny days. It can rain occasionally during the summer months. And when it does, it tends to linger a full day, rather than be a flash rain storm. But don’t worry, there are plenty of things to do on the drive if you do have a day of drizzle.

With the great weather, of course there will be larger crowds. The Garden Route is likely to be busy in some areas if you visit in the peak summer season.

Self-drive or organised tour

The best way to explore the Garden Route in South Africa is to hire a car. It offers unparalleled freedom and flexibility. You could collect a car at Cape Town airport and drop it off in Port Elizabeth. Doing this, you would just have to pay the one-way fee. f you had the time, it would be possible to drive the Garden Route from Port Elizabeth back to Cape Town again to drop the car off

Furthermore, I would say the quality of roads are really good on the Garden Route. Traffic is minimal and the roads are mostly two lane. I would say to only choose an organised tour if you’re a very low confidence driver. Or if having a car is simply impractical.

However, here are a couple of suggestions of organised tours doing the Garden Route South Africa:

• 3 Day Garden Route & Safari (depart and return Cape Town)
• 4 Day Garden Route Adventure Tour (depart and return Cape Town)
• 6 Day Garden Route & Addo Adventure Tour (depart and return Cape Town)

Driving tips in South Africa

As always in South Africa,  be vigilant when stopping at traffic lights . Although the risk of any car robberies happening does decrease as you leave Cape Town.

Watch out for roaming wildlife . A real hazard across the whole of South Africa is wandering animals such as baboons, ostriches, tortoises and hares. Even antelope may suddenly come bounding from the side of the road. Drive carefully and slow down when you see the signs showing animals when doing day trips from Cape Town .

Remember to  keep spare change at hand for toll roads . Many of these don’t accept foreign credit cards so keep some South African rand for this.

Also, remember to  keep 5 Rand coins spare for parking guards  at the car parks along the Garden Route. The car guard will help direct you into a space and mind your car whilst you go off sightseeing. When you return, they will approach you expecting 5 Rand as a tip.

Where to stay on the Garden Route

The Garden Route offers tons of accommodation to suit all budgets. There are plenty of camping and glamping sites, as well as hostels for those looking for budget accommodation. For those seeking luxury accommodation on the Garden Route, there are some wonderful places to stay. I’ll include suggestions for each area below.

In terms of campsites along the Garden Route, these are some of the best:

Ebb & Flow campsite in Wilderness . Offering camping and caravan spots, as well as 4-bed log cabins and forest lodges.

Timber camping decks in the Knysna Forest . Beautiful camping decks for tents as well as treetop forest chalets.

Nature’s Valley Rest Camp in Tsitsikamma National Park. Forest huts and camping spots.

Storms River Mouth Rest Camp in Tsitsikamma National Park . Offering a mix of forest huts, rondavels and camping spots.

Budgeting for the Garden Route

As with most trips, this epic road trip can be done on a budget, or you can splash out.

Transport:  The first thing you’ll need to consider is the hire car or the cost of the bus pass. Car hire will really vary depending on the time of year you drive the Garden Route. If you visit in peak season, car hire will be a lot more expensive. Most car hire companies also charge an insurance premium that lowers the cost of the excess should anything go wrong. So I would recommend budgeting for the insurance premium – just in case.

Gas/Petrol: This is generally quite affordable in South Africa.

Accommodation : As mentioned, there are places to stay on the Garden Route to suit every budget. A nice hotel room is likely to cost around £50 per night. Whilst a camping spot will be around £12 per night.

Activities and Entrance Fees

One of the best things about the Garden Route is that so many activities are free or inexpensive. For example, you’d need to pay an entrance fee into the national parks. But once inside, many activities are free like hiking and swimming.

To help you plan, here are the entrance fees to various sections of the Garden Route National Park:

Tsitsikamma section:

• South African citizens (R62/£3.25 per adult per day, R31/£1.65 per child per day)
• Overseas tourists (R248/£13 per adult per day, R124/£6.50 per adult per day)

Nature’s Valley section:

• South African citizens (R56/£3 per adult per day, R28/£1.50 per child per day)
• Overseas tourists (R112/£6 per adult per day, R56/£3 per adult per day)

Wilderness section:

• South African citizens (R38/£2 per adult per day, R19/£1 per child per day)
• Overseas tourists (R152/£8 per adult per day, R76/£4 per adult per day)

Kynsna section:

Another option is to purchase Wild Card membership . This gives one year’s unlimited entry to 80+ national parks, reserves and resorts across South Africa and neighbouring countries. It can be bought for an individual, a couple or a family (two adults, two children). This may work out to be really good value depending on how many parks you’re planning to visit.

The prices are as follows (valid until 13 October 2020):

• All parks in Southern Africa (80+):
• Individual R685/£36, Couple R1,130/£60, Family R1,380/£72.

A (slightly) less expensive if you’re a South African citizen is to opt for the SANParks Wild Card, which gives access to 21 parks in SA:

Individual R655/£34, Couple R1,065/£65, Family R 1,280/£67

Note this is not available to international tourists. You can check full details of all pricing here .

Garden Route South Africa Itinerary

So let’s get stuck into this itinerary. Although the official Garden Route is far shorter, logistically, for most travellers it’ll make sense to travel from Cape Town so that’s where I’ll start this route.

As I did the whole route to Port Elizabeth, I’ve extended my Garden Route itinerary to here and provided several suggestions of things to do and see near this lovely city.

Cape Town and Mossel Bay

From Cape Town , you have several options to go from here to Mossel Bay. For example, you could start your Garden Route itinerary by driving towards the Cape Peninsula. This shorter drive is one of top things to do in Cape Town . I’d normally suggest it as a day trip, but it is also a great start to the Garden Route if you have time. Along this mini road trip, you can spot penguins at Boulder’s Beach and visit the beautiful Cape Point Nature Reserve. You could also stop by the charming Simon’s Town or Kalk Bay.

Alternatively, you could also make your first stop Hermanus, instead of doing this as a day trip from Cape Town. This beautiful town is often visited by a huge Humpback whale population every year, and is widely considered one of the best whale watching spots in South Africa. Between Hermanus and Mossel Bay is the official most Southerly point on the African continent, at Cape Aghulas .

As you can see in the below, the most direct way to get to Mossel Bay from Cape Town is along the N2. But Hermanus or the Cape Peninsula would be nice stop points.

But it is Mossel Bay that is the official starting point of the Garden Route. This is a relaxed coastal resort with some lovely beaches and interesting history. One night is probably enough time here, but it’s well worth a stop.

You can do some great hikes near Mossel Bay, including a 14km route from St Blaize Cave to Dana Bay and a much longer route known as the Oystercatcher Trail . Note this is a one way hike and you’ll need to jump in a taxi back to town.

Mossel Bay is also one of the places in South Africa where you can go cage diving, but if you’re after something a bit more relaxing then sunbathing and surfing is definitely top of the order in Mossel Bay. Make sure to check out this detailed guide on all the best things to do and see in Mossel Bay here .

Places to stay in Mossel Bay

If you plan on staying over night in Mossel Bay, there are some great places to rest. From the family-friendly convenience of the Protea by Marriot in Mossel Bay , to the stylish Lavandula Manor and 94 on Rodger .

Distance from Cape Town to Mossel Bay: 387km

This town, a little further inland is well worth the short detour. Home to both the  Cango Caves , an interesting web of underground tunnels and caves, and the  Cango Wildlife Ranch , the perfect place for up-close encounters with unusual animals. You can pay to hold lemurs as well as meerkats and servals. Oudtshoorn is known as the ostrich capital of the world, so make sure to stop at the nearby  Cango Ostrich Farm  too, the main place to meet these quirky birds!

There are also plenty of great hiking trails nearby in and around the Klein Karoo if you fancy spending a couple of days longer here.

Some great tours in and near Oudtshoorn include:

• Guided Ostrich Farm Tour
• Cango Caves Zipline Adventure
• Swartberg Pass Tour

Some recommended places to stay nearby include  Old Mill Lodge ,  Karoo Retreat  and Raw  Karoo Guesthouse .

Distance from Mossel Bay to Oudtshoorn: 85.6km

George is the largest town around and has an airport, so it is a convenient access point to Knysna and Plettenberg Bay if you want to visit the Garden Route, but you’re short on time. There’s also a  large shopping centre  here, but otherwise I wouldn’t recommend stopping for too long in George.

Distance from Oudtshoorn to George: 63km or go directly from Mossel Bay (46km)

Wilderness is nestled at the foot of the Outeniqua Mountains and is a small, peaceful town with an abundance of natural beauty. This beautiful destination is bordered by the Kaaimans River to the West, and the Goukamma Nature Reserve to the east, and faces the warm Indian Ocean.

Its location means visitors can enjoy a wide array of outdoor activities along the vast stretches of beaches and in the nearby mountains, lagoons, forests, lakes and rivers. Days can be spent hiking, mountain biking, bird-watching, whale-watching, angling, boating, horse-riding and swimming. Soif you’re into outdoors activities, you can easily spend several days here!

Make sure to check the SANparks site for a guide of the  five main hiking trails in Wilderness and also visit Dolphin Point Lookout too. Here you can take in expansive views over the stunning coastline and Kaaimans River Mouth.

Wilderness is the perfect place to immerse yourself in nature – definitely take the time to absorb the charm of this soulful town.

Places to stay in Wilderness

Wilderness is home to the excellent Ebb and Flow Rest Camp, which offers budget-friendly forest huts, log cabins or camping spots.

If you’re not camping, there are plenty of well-priced small boutique hotels to pick from, including  On the Beach ,  Oceans Wilderness  and  Views Boutique Hotel & Spa .

Make sure to stop at  BITE Wilderness  for some great food and excellent craft beers, and book a table at the stunning Serendipity Restaurant for a delicious South-African inspired meal in a beautiful location.

Distance from Mossel Bay to Wilderness: 59km

Knysna is a beautiful town set around a huge lagoon and is a definite highlight along the Garden Route. Days in Knysna can be spent exploring the huge estuary on boat trips, enjoying numerous watersports or hiking along the cliff tops. In fact, between just Knysna and Plettenberg Bay (the next town in my guide), you can easily spend a week or two doing something different every single day, especially if you’re travelling with kids.

My favourite things to do in Knysna include trying my luck at fishing in the huge lagoon, playing in the shallow waters near Bollard Bay beach or making my way around some of Knysna’s excellent restaurants.

Some excellent tours in Knysna include:

• Lagoon Boat Cruise and Oyster Tasting
• Knysna Kayak Hire
• Sailing Experience in Knysna
• Knysna Whale Watching Tour
• Downhill Forest Scootour Adventure
• Knysna Standup Paddleboard Hire

Places to stay in Knysna

Knysna has an enormous number of places to stay. Not only can you stay around the edge of the lagoon, but you can also stay on some of the islands within the lagoon, including Thesen’s Island. My favourite place to stay is  The Turbine Hotel & Spa  and I highly recommend enjoying booking into their spa to enjoy some of their spa treatments too.

Other places to stay in Knysna include the  Westhill Luxury Guest House  for its views,  The Rex Hotel  for comfort and convenience, or the  Knysna Guest House  for a budget-friendly option.

Places to eat in Knysna

Knysna food is great! I’ve enjoyed many delicious lunches at the  East Head Cafe  on its beautiful terrace out the back, and I also highly recommend sailing over to  Featherbed Beach Bar  for a wonderful lunch at the water’s edge. On Thesen’s Island, I highly suggest visiting  34 Tapas & Oysters ,  Ile de Pain ,  Sirocco  and enjoying lunch at the  Island Cafe at The Turbine Hotel .

One thing to definitely try is the oysters in Knysna – the town is known for them!

From Knysna, it is just 30 minutes to Plettenberg Bay (32km drive)

Plettenberg Bay

This beautiful beach town is the home of the South African summer holiday, so if you visit November – February, expect it to be very busy with locals on vacation. It’s affectionately known as Plett and many South Africans have holiday homes there.

My favourite thing to do in Plettenberg is to visit the Robberg Nature Reserve , one of the most beautiful places I have ever been. From one of several hiking routes in the Reserve, you might see seals, dolphins and whales and the beaches here are truly some of the best in South Africa .

Other brilliant things to do in Plettenberg include diving with seals, canyoneering, mountain biking, hiking and if you’re with kids, definitely stop at Adventure Land, a huge complex of pools, slides and water-based activities.

You can even go on game drives near to Plettenberg. As Knysna and Plett are so close, I’ve popped all the best things to see and do near the two below.

Places to eat in Plettenberg Bay

One of the most popular places for lunch in Plett is  Lookout Deck . Serving up excellent seafood all day long, it’s definitely somewhere to visit whilst in Plett.

Slightly outside of town, the Bramon Wine Estate is well worth a visit, and is the only vineyard in the area. You can even spend a full day here, but make sure to book in advance for picnic-style lunches.

Another popular spot is the awesome Emily Moon River Lodge, a bohemian guesthouse where day visitors are welcome to visit for lunch, dinner or sunset drinks. Another place not to miss includes seafood at The Fat Fish .

Best things to do near Knysna and Plettenberg Bay

As mentioned above, the two towns are just a 30 min drive apart, making them excellent places to spend a couple of nights whilst driving the Garden Route. I’ve listed some of the best things to see and do near Knysna and Plett here:

• Knysna Elephant Park is well worth a visit, and is one of the best things to do on the Garden Route for kids. Visitors can arrange several different elephant interactions, from feeding them to walking with them. Another similar alternative is at Plettenberg Bay’s  Elephant Sanctuary .
• At nearby, Tenikwa Animal Sanctuary, you can have even more animal encounters, including the chance to walk with a cheetah. Book your visiting to Tenikwa here.
• Another stop is the Garden Route Wolf Sanctuary , a fascinating centre to learn about these interesting creatures.
• If you can fancy getting out on the water, then perhaps consider whale watching with  Ocean Safaris . July to December is a particularly good time to do this.

Other great tours include:

• Monkeyland, Birds of Eden and Jukani Wildlife centre visit
• Plettenberg Game Reserve 2 Hour Guided Tour
• Wild Cat Experience
• Swim with seals in Plett
• 2 Hour Horseback Game Reserve Tour
• Plettenberg Bay Canyoning

Nature’s Valley

This town is, as you might guess, a paradise for nature lovers. Just another 30 minutes’ drive along from Plettenberg, this coastal town sits at the foot of the Tsitsikamma Mountains and between the Salt River and the Groot River lagoon. Similar to Wilderness, it’s a beautiful place to stop on the Garden Route.

There are an endless array of activities to enjoy here, between the untamed coastline, the deep forest and the rugged mountains. The order of the day in Nature’s Valley is simply to embrace Mother Nature, and all of the wonders she decided to place in Nature’s Valley. Trails wind through the forest canopy, where you might emerge into an opening with a deafening waterfall ahead of you, or see curious monkeys playing in the trees above you.

One of the most unusual things to do on the Garden Routes is here at Nature’s Valley in its ‘gully’, where visitors can swim with sharks in shallow waters. The sharks, known as the Sharptooth Houndshark are not dangerous, and the ones here feed on lobsters, crabs and other small fish.

If you’re up for some physical adventure than make sure to hike the Kalanderkloof hiking trail, or cycling the Groot River pass amongst the indigenous rainforests of the Tsitsikamma.

Places to stay in Nature’s Valley

Nature’s Valley is a fantastic place to stay somewhere a little unusual and right in the heart of nature. One option is Nature’s Valley Rest Camp , where you can stay in wooden forest huts, or of course, camp surrounded by the towering trees.

Alternatively, there is the Four Fields Farm or the stylish Entre Mer et Fôret Beach House . A little further out is the Trogon House & Forest Spa , offering tree top accommodation.

Distance from Plettenberg Bay to Nature’s Valley: 34km

Storms River

Another 40km along the Garden Route and you’ll find yourself in the Storms River National Park . This is another stunning spot to visit on the route, particularly as it is where the Indian Ocean meets the river. The drive from Knysna and Plettenberg Bay to Storms River weaves between canyons, with jaw-dropping views from the bridges you cross on route.

Storms River is known for awesome adventures in the forest canopy, including rope bridges, suspension bridges and zip lining. In fact, a canopy tour in Storms River is often considered one of the best things to do in the whole of South Africa!

Book your Canopy Tour here

In the river and along the shoreline, kayaking and tubing are two of the best activities to do, as well as snorkelling in the marine protected area, where you might see sharks, rays and even octopus!

Arrange your Storms River kayaking tour here in advance

There are also several walking trails and waterfall hikes, mostly taking around 2-3 hours, and exhilarating mountain biking on the scenic Storms River Pass. Book your hiking tours here .

One other activity to do near here, which is particularly good for thrill-seekers, is the bungy-jump at Bloukrans Bridge. At 216m, it’s one of, if not the highest bungy jumps in the world.

Where to stay in Storms River

Like Nature’s Valley, stays here meaning immersing yourself in the surrounding nature. Storms River has a good variety in places to stay, from camping at the Storms River Rest Camp, to quaint stays at places such as Swallows Nest Country Cottages or the Storms River Guest Lodge . There are also some beautiful luxury places to stay, including The Fernery Lodge & Chalets and the stunning Forest Nest .

From Storms River to Port Elizabeth, the final stop on this Garden Route itinerary, it takes around 2 hours of driving (170km).

Jeffreys Bay

This world-renowned surf spot is on the way to Port Elizabeth. Often known as J-Bay, Jeffreys Bay is one of the best places in the world to surf. Every year, the planet’s best surfers come to Jeffreys Bay to ride some of the iconic waves and soak up the atmosphere. If you’re not into surfing yourself, it’s actually a great beachside community to spend a few days in with excellent accommodation options and good beach facilities.

Book your surf lessons for Jeffreys Bay here

You probably don’t need that long here if you’re not into surfing but if you do choose to stay, a great value option is Villa Petit, or The Mandyville .

Port Elizabeth

The final stop on this Garden Route itinerary is the friendly city of Port Elizabeth , one of the lesser visited cities in South Africa. Whilst it doesn’t have the obvious natural beauty of Cape Town or the vibe of Johannesburg, Port Elizabeth is in itself a peaceful, chilled out town to spend a few days in.

Port Elizabeth, aka PE is a safer and calmer place to visit in South Africa that still offers plenty of interesting attractions and beautiful places to visit.

Things to do in or near Port Elizabeth

My favourite place in PE is the unbelievable Sardinia Bay beach, which, despite seeing all of incredible beaches on the Garden Route, will still blow you away with its beauty.

Accessed by climbing a huge golden sand dune, you emerge on a vast beach with miles of soft golden sand and turquoise waters. There are few facilities here, but days can easily be spent enjoying the sea or playing ball games on the expansive sand. Make sure to stop at Grass Roof café , which is a brilliant farm stall and restaurant with a great laid back beach atmosphere. Sardinia Bay is about a 15 minute drive from the heart of PE, but if you want more centrally located beaches than try perhaps Hobie Beach or Humewood Beach.

In the heart of Port Elizabeth, a day can easily be spent in Summerstrand between the beach there and The Boardwalk . This is a shopping and leisure centre in one, all built around an artificial lake. There’s a light show on the fountains in the evening, as well as numerous other entertainment venues, shopping and great restaurants.

Another great spot to visit in the historical centre of PE is Route 67 , an arts and heritage trail showcasing artworks made by artists based in the Eastern Cape. The idea is that there’s one piece of art for every year that Nelson Mandela devoted to South Africa, and the trail weaves together the story in the run-up to the 1994 elections. Whilst wandering in the old part of the city, why not also visit the old public library?

Book your Port Elizabeth walking city tour

Near to Port Elizabeth are some excellent wildlife viewing opportunities including Addo Elephant Park and the Cape Recife Reserve, where you can see an abundance of marine life and penguins.

Book your tour to see the marine life near Port Elizabeth here

Where to stay in Port Elizabeth

There are a huge number of really good value places to stay in Port Elizabeth, many of which are located really centrally.

To stay in the very heart of the the city, I’d recommend staying at the Boardwalk Hotel or alternatively, the Radisson Blu Hotel .

Places to eat in Port Elizabeth

I’m always so pleasantly surprised by the dining options in PE, and have now sampled a fair few places in the city. La Kouzina on the seafront is an amazing spot for Greek and sushi in one place, as well as the neighbouring Coachman’s restaurant . Make sure to also stop by the original Vovo Telo , the now super popular café and bakery that has spread across South Africa. Another great smoothie and coffee spot is Rhubarb and Lime , which is right by St George’s Park, home to the city’s cricket ground.

Addo Elephant Park

Another amazing activity to do near Port Elizabeth is to visit Addo Elephant Park . Just 45 minutes from the centre of PE, and you can experience a true African safari – and you can even self-drive in the park with your hire car!  

If you don’t fancy self-driving amongst the wild animals, fear not! Another option is to book a full day guided tour, such as this one!

As South Africa’s third biggest national park, it offers more than 440,000 acres of game viewing land, and you can see a lot more than elephants – including lions, zebras, rhinos, hyenas and antelope.

Where to stay in or near Addo Elephant Park

I spent the most amazing day here, but you also do overnight stays. Some recommendations include:

Luxury : Gorah Elephant Camp or Hitgeheim Country Lodge

Mid-range: Addo Wildlife or Avoca River Cabins

Budget: Addo African Home or Addo Rest Camp

Garden Route South Africa

So there you have it! My complete guide to planning your Garden Route itinerary, including all the stop towns and beaches communities to visit. I hope this is useful but feel free to drop me a line if you would like any further information.

If you’re planning on spending a bit of time in Cape Town, then you might find some of my other guides useful. From this detailed Cape Town itineraries post, to these guides on the best places to eat in Cape Town and things to do in the city too.

I’ve also written a complete guide to the best beaches in South Africa , as well as a guide to going on safari in Kruger National Park .

Wanna see more? Check my Instagram  here , my Facebook  here  or my Twitter  here !

Disclaimer: This visit to South Africa was entirely paid for by myself. There was no involvement from the tourism board or a hotel. This is an independent guide.

Enjoyed my guide to the Garden Route South Africa. Pin it!

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The photos of Knysna Heads are amazing! I can’t believe so much is in such a small bit of the country! I’m dying to re-visit!

I know! It’s crazy isnt it!

You had quite an adventure of 7 days! When I visited Cape Town years ago, I booked only a day tour around the coast. So, I’ve learnt lots from your post today.

Ah that’s awesome! Yes, we did have a huge adventure! Amazing country.

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How to Travel Around South Africa

Kristin Addis from Be My Travel Muse is an expert on on solo female travel. It’s an important topic I can’t adequately cover, so I brought her in to share her advice. In this post, she shares her advice on traveling South Africa.

When I started planning my South Africa trip, a lot of questions went through my mind:

Is a country that big easy to travel around?

Is it expensive?

Is it safe?

The resources I found online were vague, negative, or simply nonexistent. I’d have to either cancel my trip or dive in and figure it all out for myself.

I chose the latter.

After traveling through the country for close to two months, I discovered a wide variety of reasonably affordable ways to navigate South Africa safely and easily.

To help you do the same, here’s my breakdown of how to get around South Africa on a budget:

Table of Contents

Traveling South Africa By Bus

Traveling south africa by air, traveling south africa by car, traveling south africa by train, how to stay safe in south africa.

Baz Bus runs a route from Port Elizabeth to Cape Town (or vice versa) with several stops along the way. You can hop on or off whenever you want and can begin your trip anywhere, but as those two cities have major airports, most people start in one or the other.

( Matt says : I’ve taken similar buses in New Zealand and Australia . They can be good for people who want to meet other travelers.)

The most popular Baz Bus option is the unlimited one-way hop-on/hop-off pass. It costs 3,700 ZAR and covers the 750 kilometer distance between Port Elizabeth and Cape Town. You have no time limit and have unlimited travel in one direction, allowing you to have as many stops as you want. A return pass costs 4,800 ZAR.

Baz Bus is not a big money saver, as the fares are more than the train and other bus companies, but it is a convenient option for those who are happy to travel along the popular routes and meet other backpackers. The route includes the big cities in South Africa, popular spots along the coast, and the famous Garden Route in the Western Cape.

The drawbacks to taking the bus include dealing with a lack of transport once you’re at your destination, though shuttles to various local attractions, such as the bungee jump in Wilderness, are sometimes available at an additional cost. You’ll also need to be flexible with your schedule since the shuttles don’t run every day.

The biggest drawback for me was that the buses run along one set route and only go to the most popular tourist destinations and drop off only at certain backpacker accommodations. So, for those who like to head off the beaten path, it’s not a great option.

For comparison, a Greyhound or Intercape bus from Port Elizabeth to Cape Town will cost around 280-460 ZAR each way. Bus tickets from Johannesburg to Cape town cost between 370-930 ZAR each way. The journey is around 18-20 hours. The buses are large, air-conditioned, comfortable, and filled with locals, not backpackers.

Be sure to bring along snacks (and water) as well as some entertainment, as the buses run on a tight schedule and most stops are very brief, if they happen at all.

During the high season (December and June through August), you should book ahead as buses fill up quickly.  

Even last-minute flights, as long as they still have quite a few seats left, tend not to go up in price if it’s a major route. For a last-minute planner like me, that was a real treat! For less common routes or smaller airports, prices go up the closer the date is.

Unsurprisingly, inconvenient times and early morning flights tend to be the cheapest. As with most budget airlines the world over, checked baggage and meals onboard cost extra.

While flying is probably the cheapest option, it’s also the least sustainable . And, when you factor in getting to and from each airport you don’t end up saving a huge amount of time if you’re just traveling a short distance.

However, if you’re on a tight schedule then flying is probably your most budget-friendly option.  

In truth, road-tripping through South Africa is not much of a problem at all, as other cars are passing by all the time should a breakdown occur, and South Africans are incredibly friendly and helpful.

That’s not to say driving in South Africa is without risk. There are carjackings from time to time, and break-ins are common. But being aware of this and taking precautions to keep valuables hidden and doors locked greatly reduces the risks.

Renting a car is the most convenient way to get around since you can get to many out-of-the-way parks, cities, and destinations. If you would rather not travel alone but still want to rent a car, post on travel forums such as:

• Africa Backpacking Facebook group
• Couchsurfing

For the best car rental prices, use Discover Cars .

Additionally, ask around hostels as there are usually people looking (or offering) rides (I found my partner in crime through a friend of mine). Not only will you get to meet new people but you’ll be able to split the gas costs, saving you money.

I rented a Volkswagen Vevo, which we booked online and picked up in person. The price worked out to be 4,350 ZAR for two weeks, including gas, the fee for dropping off in a different city than we rented in (we picked the car up in Johannesburg and dropped it off in Cape Town), and insurance.

During my trip, gas cost around 17 ZAR per liter. As of 2023, it’s closer to 23 ZAR per liter. If you choose a smaller car, mileage can be quite good. To keep costs low, we also gave rides to other backpackers we met along the way in exchange for a bit of gas money.

While it’s possible to buy a cheap car and sell it later, the paperwork can sometimes take months to go through and thus is not the best for travelers who don’t plan to spend ages in the country.

A small manual car will do for most popular destinations in South Africa. I’ll admit, a 4×4 would have been helpful for a few of the lesser-visited places that we went to during our road trip, such as the amphitheater hike in the Drakensberg mountains . But they are more expensive to rent and use more fuel. I’d only rent one if you plan on getting off the beaten path often.  

Shosholoza Meyl (South African Railways) has long-distance trains that serve Cape Town, Port Elizabeth, Bloemfontein, Durban, East London, Johannesburg, Queenstown, and East London. They’re comfortable and safe and make various stops at smaller towns along the way.

The fares are some of the cheapest available for any mode of transport in South Africa, running as low as 330 ZAR for a sleeper berth from Johannesburg to Durban. They’re safe, comfortable, and one of the best-kept secrets of traveling South Africa.

For those who are interested in some luxury, the famous Blue Train , which runs from Pretoria to Cape Town, costs 41,380 ZAR for a luxury double berth. The trip lasts a few days and includes wine, cigars, great food, and comfortable compartments. It’s the fanciest way to see the country!  

That said, muggings are still common, especially amongst tourists and particularly in Cape Town and Johannesburg. Given the high level of rape and theft in South Africa, I wouldn’t advise hitchhiking ( which is something I usually love to do! ).

Additionally, one shouldn’t walk around alone at night, be flashy, or leave things showing in the car, but much of that is true around the world.

For more safety tips, here’s a complete guide to staying safe in South Africa .

There are numerous ways to get around South Africa , and after testing several methods, I think the best is a car rental. Nothing else offers the flexibility, convenience, and reasonable price tag. If a car rental isn’t your thing and you’re solo, I’d consider the Baz Bus.

That said, regardless of which of the above transport methods you choose, South Africa is easy and relatively affordable to travel around, whether you’re solo, in a group, or a duo.

Kristin Addis is a solo female travel expert who inspires women to travel the world in an authentic and adventurous way. A former investment banker who sold everything and left California in 2012, Kristin has solo traveled the world ever since. You can find more of her work at Be My Travel Muse or on Instagram and Facebook .

Book Your Trip to South Africa: Logistical Tips and Tricks

Book Your Flight Use Skyscanner to find a cheap flight. They are my favorite search engine because they search websites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is left unturned.

Book Your Accommodation You can book your hostel with Hostelworld as they have the biggest inventory and best deals. If you want to stay somewhere other than a hostel, use Booking.com as they consistently return the cheapest rates for guesthouses and cheap hotels.

Don’t Forget Travel Insurance Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:

• Safety Wing (for everyone below 70)
• Insure My Trip (for those over 70)
• Medjet (for additional evacuation coverage)

Looking for the Best Companies to Save Money With? Check out my resource page for the best companies to use when you travel. I list all the ones I use to save money when I’m on the road. They will save you money when you travel too.

Hi, I’m Nomadic Matt, the New York Times best-selling author of How to Travel the World on $50 a Day and Ten Years a Nomad, as well as the founder of this website! And I’m here to help you save money on your next trip.

Got a comment on this article? Join the conversation on Facebook , Instagram , or Twitter and share your thoughts!

Disclosure: Please note that some of the links above may be affiliate links, and at no additional cost to you, I earn a commission if you make a purchase. I recommend only products and companies I use and the income goes to keeping the site community supported and ad free.

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Road Trip South Africa – A Suggested Itinerary

It’s tough to sum up a road trip through South Africa in a few words – It offers pretty much everything under the sun – mountains and grasslands, adventure sports and beach-bumming opportunities, wildlife safaris and tame Ostrich farms, wild bushland and turquoise lagoons, and luscious food and wine. No wonder, it makes for the road trip of a life time.

Here’s what we ended up doing on our road trip through South Africa:

1) Johannesburg (2 days)

Fly into Johannesburg or Jo’burg as the locals call it. Spend your time exploring the townships of Soweto and sensing the vibe of the city. Make sure to hit the Sunday crafts market in Sandton and follow that up with an afternoon of playing with Lion cubs at the Johannesburg Lion Park .

2) Safari at Hluhluwe Imfolozi National Park (2-3 days)

Drive from Johannesburg to HluHluwe Imfolozi National Park for an offbeat Safari. This 550 km (approx 8 hours) stretch will take you through traditional South African villages and towns. Spend the next day on a guided safari in the HluHluwe Imfolozi National Park looking for animals. We had a field day spotting Zebras and Antelopes!

3) Durban (3 days)

3 days is about right for Durban – you can spend your days trekking in some of the well-kept natural reserves like Umhlanga and Amanzimtoti or laze on Durban’s spectacular beaches. In the evenings, enjoy the lively night life that Durban has to offer and do not forget to try the ‘bunny chow’ – a hollowed bread loaf filled with curry – yummy! One place that you CANNOT miss is the Valley of 1000 hills

4) Addo Elephant National Park (2 days)

Aah! The best part of the road trip through South Africa (at least for Vid ;)). 900 kms from Durban lies a breathtaking natural reserve next to a sleepy village called Addo. You can easily spend a day or two doing a self-drive safari at the Addo Elephant National Park . Vid loved the experience so much that he is already planning his next self-drive safari.

5) The Garden Route (5-7 days)

If we had our way, we would drive the Garden Route three or four times over. Stretching from Port Elizabeth all the way to Cape Town, this 750 km drive is what dreams are made of. One can easily spend 5 days covering the Garden Route – we split our journey at a mystical sea-side town called Knysna. For adventure seekers, the Bloukrans bridge between Port Elizabeth and Knysna offers the world’s highest commercial bungee jump. How could we have stayed behind? 🙂

Hop over to read about our adventures driving the garden route !

6) Cape Town and The Wine Route (5 days)

New York Times recently listed Cape Town as #1 in a list of 52 places to visit in 2014. We can certainly vouch for that. From hiking the Table Mountain to devouring fresh seafood at the Mariner’s wharf at Hout Bay, Cape Town has something for everyone. We even had breakfast with Penguins at the Boulders beach in Simonstown.  Leave aside a couple of days for visits to Frankshoek and Stellenbosch, both of which boasts of some of the world’s best wineries. You MUST NOT leave the region before indulging in some wine tasting.  Cape Town and the surrounding wine region is undoubtedly the best way to end a long, rewarding, and a little tiring road trip through South Africa.

7) Fly from Cape Town to Johannesburg and back to London

21 days, 4,400 Kms (including detours and city driving), and a myriad of landscapes later, the epic road trip through South Africa came to an end. We can safely say that this trip has been the best travel experience of our lives till now 🙂

Planning And Budgeting

A road trip spanning 3 weeks requires a fair bit of planning and organisation, especially when it’s in a diverse country like South Africa. Months before our trip, we spent hours on the internet looking for cheap rates for hotels . Given the importance of tourism in South Africa, it’s easy to find something to suit all budgets. Our approximate cost breakdown for the trip was:

• Car Rental with Hertz: £20 per day for a Chevy Spark with all insurances and one-way drop off fees included
• Fuel Costs: Approximately 200 litres of petrol at ~75p per litre = £150 for the entire trip
• Accommodation: £20 per night per person including breakfast (we stay in local B&B’s – somewhere between luxurious hotels and backpacker’s hostels)
• Food costs: £20-£25 per person per day
• Safari: A guided safari will set you back by £75-£100 per person. A self-drive option is much cheaper at around £15 per person. We suggest you do one of each 🙂
• Miscellaneous costs: £15 per person

There you have it – a South African Road Trip itinerary that will take you through changing landscapes, beautiful scenery, scrumptious food, exhilarating wild life, and divine wine. To read a detailed account of each stop, including suggestions for accommodation, offbeat detours, and random fun stuff, read all our posts about our South African Road Trip .

If you have any specific questions, ask them in the comments below.

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70 thoughts on “ road trip south africa – a suggested itinerary ”.

Looks gorgeous! I’m curious…do you know what are the ostriches farmed for? Their meat? Their eggs? Both? Definitely looks like a great road trip either way. Cape Town is quite high on my list of places to visit in Africa…but probably won’t happen this year!

They are usually for the eggs and also for show i.e. for people to come and see Ostriches 🙂 You should definitely do a road trip – you guys will love it !

Brilliant! Thanks so much for the clear and detailed info. A dream of mine… Not for this year but will make it happen soon. Thanks again for putting up this very informative post 🙂

Thanks Catherine- glad you found it useful 🙂

This is soooo damn inspiring. Doing this for real! 😀

Abhilash go for it- you will love it 🙂

Looks fabulous. Have been wanting to do a trip to South Africa myself, especially for the big five. The road trip just makes it better. Quick one – can you share some of the hotels you stayed at? Also, what about safety measures etc.

Hey Sonika – we stayed in apartments we booked off Air B&B. Safety wise- just take the usual precautions. Don’t flash valuables, keep your rental car locked, and just be aware of your surroundings at all times 🙂

Hey, I live in SA! There are a bunch websites for hotels, etc, for example, http://www.lekkeslaap.co.za ; but you can also just google south african accomadation! And about the safety … They make it sound worse than what it is, just don’t leave valuables in plain sight, lock doors, etc! And have fun!!!

We totally agree – we didn’t feel unsafe in South Africa even once!

u refreshed my memory of South Africa..what a beautiful place!!Garden route is something which should be on the bucket list..did u guys manage to go to Hermanus???I was lucky to sight so many whales there:):) And yes as u rightly mentioned the best way to end an eventful day in cape is by sipping one of their finest wines:) Also i loved the drive through from chapman’s peak , unending ocean at cape point!!!aah what views…wana go back:(

Aah Chapman’s peak – that stunner. Yep, we did all those things and reading your comment made us miss them

Wow this is fantastic! I don’t have immediate plans for South Africa yet but it’s on my wish list. I’ll be coming back to this post for reference when I make a plan!

Thanks Michelle 🙂

Love the pics.. We’ve traveled through South Africa a couple of times and always hate to leave. Our last overlanding was 3months from Nairobi to Cape Town, taking in 8 countries en-route.. absolutely epic and we can’t wait to do it again. What a magical place.

Whoa – that sounds amazing Rhonda. How was Nairobi?

Thank for sharing pcis. I love your píc so much and will comeback to visit your site. Hope you have more useful articles for audience. I will save money to travel to South Africa one day.

Thanks. I hope our tips on exploring South Africa come handy when you visit the country 🙂

Fantastic post.

Planning a 2 weeks road trip including flying to and from Mumbai. I have a very outdoorsy, nature and adventure loving 8 year old girl. I am allergic to wine. So with the above points in mind, would you be kind enough to advise an itinerary.

Best regards, Ritesh

Thanks for the kind words 🙂 To be honest all our suggestions (and itinerary) are in this article (as well as the other South Africa posts here: https://www.bruisedpassports.com/category/south-africa ). You can tailor the itinerary depending on your preferences 🙂

Hope you have an amazing trip

Great trip! Why not travel to Brazil one day? You would thoroughly enjoy this fantastic country! http://www.almojewellery.com

Alex Brazil tops our wish list. We hope to visit super soon 🙂

Great info. I was planning to head to South Africa either later this year or early next so this is perfect to see what there is to see. Thanks

Glad you found it useful 🙂 Let us know if you have any questions.

Hi.. Your blog has been really helpful and inspirational for me while planning my Honeymoon trip to South Africa for December 2015 but lately a lot of people have been warning me about safety concerns in SA regarding robbery and car jacking. It would be really helpful if you could provide with any advise.

Thanks Sahil Sehgal

Hey Sahil – we hope you have an amazing time on your honeymoon in South Africa. To be honest, we found South Africa, especially the Garden Route & Cape Town, fairly safe. If you’re really worried, perhaps you could steer clear of Johannesburg 🙂

This is so useful! I’m thinking about flying from Durban to Port Elizabeth to give us more time in other places. What would I be missing if we flew?

Hey Sierra,

That’s a good idea – don’t think you’ll miss much between Durban and Port Elizabeth. You could spend the extra day in Addo National Park 🙂

I’m really impressed with your travel blog.Being a travel junkie myself I can relate with your experiences.

Honestly I was contemplating between SA and Greece but your post just cliched the deal in favour of SA.

I Had a some questions though why did you not include Kruger in your travel itinerary?

What I was planning was that we fly to cape town enjoy the city for 3-4 days do the garden route in another 5,fly out from port elizabeth and do a night each in kruger and josburg.

I would appreciate your suggestion on the same.

Hi Randhir,

Thanks for your comment. Kruger was not fitting well in our itinerary as we had to be in Durban for a gathering. That’s why we chose Hluhluwe.

Your plan sounds great and you should definitely spend a couple of days in Kruger. Also, when you are driving the Garden route, spend a few days in Knysna.

Have fun in South Africa – it’s amazing 🙂

Hey thanks so much for your prompt reply… really appreciate it.

So if we are doing Kruger should we do Addo and josburg lion park or we can give them a miss?

Sorry for the late reply – you can give Addo and the lion park a miss if you are visiting Kruger National Park 🙂

Thank you so much for this detailed blog post. My husband and I are planning to South Africa this Jan 2016 we are still in the planning step as I am doing so much reading on the garden route, our initial plan is as follows:

Cape town ( 8 days) Garden routes (8-10 days) still not sure about the duration

I thought we might stay first in Knsyna for 3 nights and travel back and forth, then move to wilderness for another 3 nights and travel back and forth, and then maybe to Elizabeth port? your suggestion is highly appreciated 😀 we don’t like to change accommodations a lot, we don’t have kids yet, but we hate the hassle of checking in and out off hotels.

then we will spend 2-3 days at a Safari lodge

What do you think? will love to hear back form you

Sorry for the late reply 🙁

Your plan sounds great. Even we don’t like moving from one hotel to the other every day, so we did something similar. We made Knysna our base for 3-4 days and explored the surroundings. We did the same when we were in Cape Town too.

Which Safar Lodge are you planning to visit? 🙂

Hey guys – I LOVE this post so much and it’s made me really excited for a trip i’m taking there in a couple of weeks. Do you have any awesome B&B suggestions in Cape Town or along the Garden route? Thanks so much, aly

You’ll love South Africa 🙂 Well, in Knysna we stayed at Double Dutch . We didn’t stay in Capetown but 30 minutes away in Simonstown at Marianella guest house .

Have a great trip and tell us how it goes 🙂

Hey, I regularly visit your site and really impressed with it. I want to have 7-8days tour of SA.Please suggest the must see cities/falls/safari/gardens/monuments/shopping to visit(not to say I visited SA bt missed it ie must see places).Also kindly suggest me the itinerary. We are a group of 10 from a family. Thank you

Hey Chetan – if you have just 7-8 days we’d suggest spending it in the Cape Town-Garden Route area. We have a detailed article on driving the Garden Route. It offers a bit of everything, so it’s perfect for you 🙂

South Africa is a lovely place to visit.. I enjoyed the classical exhibition from soweto guyz.. Along Vikaz Street

It is one of our favourite countries till date 🙂

So excited about our 3 week family road trip next year. Is there a reason why you didn’t go to Kruger? Having a hard time deciding what to miss out on. Who did you do the Soweto tour with?

Hey Adrianne,

No particular reason why we didn’t go to Kruger. Trust us, whatever you do in South Africa, you’ll love it. So don’t worry about what you’ll miss 😉

We did the tour with Soweto Bicycle Tours. You can read more here: https://www.bruisedpassports.com/africa/5-reasons-you-must-go-for-a-township-tour-in-south-africa

Have a great time in SA – it’s a beautiful country 🙂

Hi Savi & Vid,

This is quite useful for us as we plan a 3 week trip to South Africa. Just had a couple of queries on the itinerary

– Durban To Port Elizabeth is a really long distance. Did you guys just power through that drive or did stopovers?

– If not Hluhluhwe, any other safaris you would suggest? Ones that can be done on a budget.

Thanks in advance and enjoy your time in USA!

Just power through Durban to PE, not much to see there. Not sure if there are any other safaris around Hluhluhwe that will be cheaper. Kruger is definitely more expensive.

Have a great trip and apologies for the late reply 🙁

I am planning to visit south africa for 10 days in last week of august.Is it a good time to self drive garden route .Will it be possible for us to visit capetown ,do garden route and visit Kruger for 2-3 days in a span of 10-11 days. and if not kruger which other national park can I visit for a good game view? Is it really safe to self drive from capetown to port elizabeth as I have heard a lot of safety concerns

Hey Ayushi,

We did not face any safety concerns while driving through South Africa. As long as you are sensible and take the usual precautions, you should be fine 🙂

It might be a bit crammed to do all that in 10 days. That said if you spend 3 days in Cape Town, drive the garden route over 3 days, then you can fly from Port Elizabeth to Kruger/nearby airport and do a few safaris there.

Hi! Thank you for the detailed road trip itinerary. I am looking for a road trip of about 12 days in SA. Also, I wish do enjoy all the adventures that the country has to pffer! Can you please guide me regardig that?

Pease read all our articles on South Africa to get an idea of what all we did during our road trip 🙂 These articles should give you a good insight!

hey- could you help me with where you stayed on the garden route and what you did?

Hey Mitali – we did this trip pre blogging days, so didn’t both to jot down a lot of names of hotels etc. However we always use a price comparison website to find the best hotel deals and book them. Here it is https://www.hotelscombined.com/?a_aid=148771

Hi Savi and Vid, I would like to know whats the best time to go to south africa? We want to do the garden route which includes (shark cage diving) as well as kruger national park. So whats the best time to ensure that the weather permits all of this? Also is it safe to self drive in SA? any words of caution.

Hey Manali – we found it safe to drive in South Africa as long as one exercises caution (don’t flash valuables, camera gear etc). The best time to visit is b/w July and November for animal sightings 🙂

Any reason you didnt do Bungee Jumping? Also We are planning to visit in Jan end February for 15 days. Was thinking of only driving through The Garden Route and rest of the tour by other flight or car. Do u think think that will be fine? Any suggestion for 15 day itenary. Thanks

Hey sounds good. Yes a combination of flight and car sounds good 🙂 Savi’s brother, who accompanied us on this trip, did Bungee Jump and it was amazing

Can you please suggest an itneary for 8 days in South Africa.

Please customise the itinerary for South Africa in this article depending on your preferences and choices 🙂

Hello!!!! I just love your blog and both of you. Reading every blog of yours makes me want to take that leap of faith out of the couch and travelling. South Africa … Mersmerised # worried about lack of money!! Can you give a rough idea of finance for this trip and do we book the hotels and other stuff through some travel agent or how do we go about it on owr own… Looking fwd for ur reply

It’s difficult to give an idea for budget as it depends a lot on your preferences. You can stay in hostels and save a lot or you can stay in luxury hotels and spend more. We would definitely recommend booking accommodation in advance – you can easily book on your own if you like 🙂

Is Kynsya to oudtshoorn and back to kynsa possible..planning to drive from cape town to Kynsya and stay for 3 nights..please suggest

Yes it is 🙂

Hi Vid & Savi,

I am planning to visit South Africa in the month of August. I have made list of places worth exploring. But unfortunately, I cant find a way out in Cape Town especially for Accomodation and guided tours in and around the city. I am planning to stay for 4 days in Cape Town. At present my search results for accommodation has been 0 with no one to help with regard to tours, especially local representatives. Could you please help or else offer any advise?

Not quite sure why you can’t find any accommodation. Perhaps you could broaden your search and look in neighbouring towns. We stayed in Simonstown for Cape Town 🙂

Hi, what month did you guys travel to SA in? I’m slightly confused between July-August and December periods. Help is much appreciated 🙂

We went in March 🙂

December is a good time too!

Thanks so much for this itinerary. Me and my husband will be using this for our anniversary trip next month. We only will have 10 days to do it though so what would you suggest taking out or spending less days doing?

Thanks for your time! 🙂

Hey you could skip the Jo’burg/Addo bits 🙂

I am searching for South Africa topic on the internet, and I found your blog. This is really helpfull. Thanks for helping me to write this article. It’s about “When Is The Best Time To Visit South Africa “ . Kindly check and share your thoughts.

Thanks Ruma

Hey I am planning to visit south africa but really scared after reading negative reviews about thw safety issues. Jberg is completely out from my itwnary but evwn capetown and garden route seems unsafe post covid. Any suggestions please

Hey Nupur – we didn’t find it unsafe. Ofc you need to exercise common caution like not flashing expensive gadgets or money, keeping car doors locked etc but otherwise we only met the nicest people

Nice Article with beautiful images. Thanks for sharing this.

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The ultimate Garden Route itinerary, one of the world's greatest coastal drives

One of the world’s great coastal drives, the Garden Route offers food, adventure, culture and beach time in equal measure.

The setting for arguably South Africa’s most scenic road trip, the Garden Route runs for 125 miles along the country’s southern coast, from Mossel Bay (about 240 miles east of Cape Town) east to Storms River. The ocean-hugging N2 road — as it’s more prosaically known — cuts between sandy beaches, pretty towns and dense patches of indigenous forest, with the Outeniqua Mountains a short distance inland. A road trip along it allows for experiences that range from adrenaline-pumping bungee jumps to leisurely wine tastings, and a plate of oysters at a waterside restaurant rounding off the perfect day.  

Mossel Bay is something of an adventure hub, home to a zip-line that extends over the ocean — at 3,773ft, the longest of its kind in the world — and the chance to sandboard down the 1,148ft-long Dragon Dune , South Africa’s largest. It’s not all adrenaline-drenched escapades though. There’s evidence of Middle Stone Age human inhabitation at the Point of Human Origins archaeological site, including tools dating back 160,000 years. From here, you can take a detour inland to the Outeniqua Mountains, which run along the southern coast, with options for day hikes.

It’s a 50-minute drive to the tiny town of Wilderness. The beach here is a long sweep of platinum-blonde sand backed by frothing waves in which dolphins play. The Wilderness section of the Garden Route National Park is a protected area of indigenous forests and coastal rivers and lakes. At the Wilderness Ebb-and-Flow Rest Camp , guests can rent a canoe to paddle down the Touws River, looking out for fish eagles and the half-collared kingfisher. There’s also a walking trail dedicated to the latter and one to an Outeniqua yellowwood tree thought to be over 800 years old.

The lagoon-side town of Knysna, 40 minutes from Wilderness, is a popular holiday destination for South Africans and visitors from further afield. Whale-watching season, when southern right and humpback whales can be seen along the coast, runs from June to November. Another major draw is food, mainly seafood — oysters being a speciality. The waterfront restaurant, wine shop and deli, 34 South , serves both wild and cultivated oysters in a host of ways, from ceviche to panko fried. Other ocean-view restaurants worth trying are Tapas & Oysters , for seafood and tapas-style dishes, and O Pescador , for South African-Portuguese cuisine, including grilled sardines.

Half an hour from Knysna is Plettenberg Bay, another well-established holiday town. There’s great accommodation here, including The Plettenberg , a boutique hotel with ocean-facing pools and direct beach access. Outside town, there’s the chance to sample cool-climate Sauvignon Blancs and sparkling Méthode Cap Classique (traditionally made South African sparkling wines) at producers such as Bramon Wine Estate or Newstead Wine Estate . There are less leisurely pursuits, too, like canyoning . It’s also possible to spot great white sharks in the shallow coastal waters off Robberg Nature Reserve .  

From the village of Nature’s Valley, 30 minutes away, it’s possible to sample a section of the 39-mile Tsitsikamma Trail on an overnight hike. The 11-mile chunk leads through indigenous afromontane forest and native fynbos vegetation. Adventure sports company MTO Trails offers a ‘slackpacking’ service that drops food and luggage at a basic overnight hut on the route, meaning you need only carry a daypack, and can arrange for a shuttle back to your car the next morning. There are also day hikes from Nature’s Valley, including the four-mile Groot River Trail, which follows the river to a beach before looping back. Maps and permits are available at Nature’s Valley Rest Camp.  

Between Nature’s Valley and Storms River is the 709ft bungee jump — one of the world’s highest — from   Bloukrans Bridge . It starts with a zip-line to the jump point. For a softer thrill, the SkyWalk affords river gorge views from the bridge’s suspended walkway. Storms River is the official end of the Garden Route — travellers craving one final adventure can explore the town’s gorge by kayak.  

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South Africa’s ultimate road trip

Team Africa Geographic

Wednesday, 17 November 2021

If the whole world is indeed a garden, as Frances Hodgson Burnett once wrote, then the Garden Route of South Africa was cultivated by a maverick horticulturist. In truth, the name is somewhat misleading because the Garden Route is about as far from the average garden as could conceivably be imagined . Here, myriad landscapes culminate in a dramatic meeting of mountains, gorges, forest and the Indian Ocean, interspersed by quaint towns and bustling beach cities. Not for nothing is this glorious stretch of coastline one of South Africa’s most popular tourism hotspots – it is a region best explored at leisure, taking every moment to appreciate nature in her wildest glory.

What is the Garden Route?

In truth, neither “garden” nor “route” are particularly accurate descriptors, though the moniker has proved such an effective marketing tool that nearby towns clamour for (or simply claim) inclusion. Although the exact boundaries differ depending on the source, the Garden Route generally refers to an area that extends from Mossel Bay in the Western Cape, east to the town of Stormsrivier in the Eastern Cape – a straight-line distance of around 200km. Inland it encompasses the town of Oudtshoorn right up to the Swartberg Mountain Range. This magnificent region includes rugged patches of coastline, pristine sandy beaches, forests, mountains, gorges, lakes and rivers, all easily and quickly accessible. At the right time of year (August/September), many sections are covered in a glorious carpet of flowers, only adding to the beauty of the surroundings.

Visitors can select a base from Olde Worlde towns and explore the extraordinary scenery day by day before rewarding themselves with an evening of fine dining or perhaps an afternoon at a picturesque wine farm. With the added advantage of several malaria-free nature reserves and national parks in the vicinity to tack on a safari adventure, a trip to the Garden Route can be individually tailored to every need – from families with small children and sedate couples to intrepid solo travellers and adventure seekers.

Mossel Bay is a town steeped in history and marks the spot where the very first European set foot in South Africa. Portuguese explorer Bartolomeu Dias stopped here in 1488, searching for fresh water to replenish his ship’s supplies. As he was to discover, the land was already occupied. In a sad portent of this region’s future race relations, one of Dias’ men shot a Khoikhoi herder with a crossbow. Unsurprisingly, the locals reacted with anger and sent the mariner and his scurvy-riddled sailors scuttling back to their ship in a hail of stones. Human history in the area goes back considerably further than Dias’ misadventure. The caves below Pinnacle Point contain some of the earliest artefacts of modern man – believed to be about 164,000 years old. These Middle Stone Age people could not have chosen a more picturesque home; the caves look out on the turquoise of the Indian Ocean below.

These days, visitors to Mossel Bay visit the cave networks and admire the view before visiting the museum complex to explore the full-sized replica of Dias’ ship. Though the coastline is relatively rocky here, a couple of stunning beaches and sheltered coves are perfect for swimming in the warm sea. The quaint St Blaize Lighthouse is a popular attraction and serves as a landmark for some of the region’s popular hiking routes. There is also a Seal Island (smaller than the one close to Cape Town) where Cape fur seals gather in enormous numbers.

One of South Africa’s oldest towns and once a historic timber hub, George is nestled in the sublime Outeniqua Mountains, just eight kilometres from the ocean. As one of the Garden Route’s largest towns, it is sometimes nicknamed the “Gateway to the Garden Route” and sports a curious mixture of big city vibrance and small-town atmosphere. There are several historical landmarks to appreciate, including an ancient English Oak tree called The Slave Tree, the King Edward VII Library, the Outeniqua Transport Museum and several old churches. The Garden Route Botanical Gardens, which exclusively showcases the unique vegetation of the southern Cape fynbos, are also situated in George.

The various scenic drives around the town, including Montagu Pass, will reveal unexpected antique shops, art galleries and craft stalls, while golf enthusiasts can enjoy a round at some of South Africa’s premier courses.

To the north and inland from George, the town of Oudtshoorn marks the northern boundary of the Garden Route region. Here the vegetation has changed from the iconic fynbos of the Cape coastlines to the sparse Klein Karoo, at the meeting point of the Swartberg and Outeniqua Mountain ranges.

Offering the usual rural town charm so characteristic of the Garden Route’s urban areas, Oudtshoorn is also home to the largest farmed ostrich population in the world. This tradition goes back to the days of the Ostrich Feather Booms of the late 19th century/early 20th century, which saw the rise of “feather barons” and dynasties that built the mansions lining the Grobbelaars River. Before World War 1, ostrich feathers were South Africa’s fourth-largest export and worth almost their weight in diamonds. Today, ostriches are farmed for their meat and feathers and continue to be a major tourist attraction.

Just outside Oudtshoorn are the Cango Caves, enormous limestone caves with massive stalagmite formations, some of which date back 4,5 billion years!

Wilderness and Wilderness National Park

In keeping with Garden Route naming tradition, Wilderness is less “wilderness” and a more tranquil seaside town, situated on the banks of the Touw River Lagoon. It is, however, surrounded by true wilderness in the form of the nearby Wilderness National Park, which protects over 2,500 hectares and encompasses forests, five rivers, five lakes, two estuaries and a stretch of coastline. Though usually still referred to as Wilderness National Park, since 2008, it is technically the Wilderness section of the Garden Route National Park which also includes the Knysna Pools and Tsitsikamma sections (see below).

Wilderness National Park is a paradise for campers, hikers, kayakers, mountain bikers, paragliders, abseilers and kloofing enthusiasts. The magical forest paths wind their way to various waterfalls. They are filled with the calls (and occasional glimpses) of kingfishers and the colourful Knysna turacos (or ‘loerie’ if chatting to a local). The coastline section comes to a head at Dolphin Point, which, like much of the Garden Route, is a great place to look for southern right whales during their annual migration (from July until early November).

Not far from Wilderness, en route to Knysna, is the seaside village of Sedgefield – an excellent spot for families looking for a quieter seaside holiday – and the Goukamma Nature Reserve, which protects an extensive vegetated dune field.

The original route between George and Knysna is the historic Seven Passes Road which crosses over ten rivers and seven gorges and provides a taster of the exquisite scenery awaiting keen explorers. As beautiful Southern African towns go, Knysna is near the top of a very long and competitive list. Situated on the banks of a picturesque lagoon that is part of a protected marine reserve and surrounded by lush indigenous forests, Knysna is renowned for its dynamic charm and genial hospitality. The Knysna River feeds the warm water estuary. It passes between two prominent headlands –The Heads – creating an occasionally treacherous narrow strip for boats to pass through as they head for the open sea.

The town is surrounded by temperate forests that hide what ecologists believe to be the last remaining elephant of the Knysna/Tsitsikamma region. The cow is thought to be around 45 years old and is the sole survivor of the effectively extinct southernmost population of elephants in Africa. Centuries of persecution have genetically programmed her to be understandably wary of humans, and actual sightings of her are few and far between . Most of what we know about her movements come from tracks, dung and camera traps as she haunts the ancient trails of the fairy-tale forests and surrounding farms – a lonely and poignant figure.

Garden Route National Park and the Tsitsikamma Forests

Her ancestors, which experts estimate probably numbered around 3,000 individuals in the 18th century, would have wandered far and wide through the dark and mysterious forests and surrounding habitats. Though the elephants are long gone, parts of their historic range are protected by the Garden Route National Park: a disconnected amalgamation of the existing Tsitsikamma and Wilderness National Parks, the Knysna National Lake Area, and various other protected tracts of state land.

The Garden Route National Park covers patches of the south coast between George and Port Elizabeth. Its magnificent forests are characterised by giant Outeniqua yellowwoods, stinkwoods, and Cape chestnuts, blooming upwards from thick ferns on the forest floor. From west to east, the topography becomes increasingly dramatic, culminating in the plunging cliffs and steep gorges of Tsitsikamma and Storms River, which marks the “end” of the Garden Route.

Here visitors can test their head for heights by crossing the bridge over the Bloukrans River. Adrenaline junkies can get their thrill fix by leaping from the bridge at one of the highest bungee jumps in the world – an astonishing 216 metres (roughly 70 stories) above the base of the gorge. The suspension bridge over the Storms River mouth further east offers a more sedate and less vertiginous approach to taking in the spectacular scenery.

Plettenberg Bay

The town of “Plett” is known for its expanses of white sandy beaches and glorious cerulean sea, making it one of the best choices as a base to explore the rest of the Garden Route. Nature lovers will find themselves enthralled by a circuit of the Robberg peninsula at the Robberg Nature Reserve or watching the Cape fur seals navigating the surf. Southern right (July to November), Bryde’s, humpback (May/June and from November to January), killer and sei whales are regular visitors, and dolphins are permanent residents.

Explore and stay

Want to head to the Garden Route? To find lodges, search for our ready-made packages or get in touch with our travel team to arrange your safari, scroll down to after this story.

The weather along the Garden Route is temperate and idyllic, with temperatures seldom dropping below 10˚C or rising too far above 29 ˚C on the coast. Unusually for South Africa, there is no set rainy season, and rain can fall all year round (and it does – the Garden Route receives some of the highest rainfall levels in South Africa, hence the verdant foliage). There is a slight peak in rainfall during the winter months from June until August, which coincides with the arrival of migrating whales. The flowers celebrate the arrival of spring in September.

As already discussed, this is not a “route” but rather an exploration and visitors can make the best of their stay by choosing one or two places to stay and travelling to the various attractions from there. Careful planning and research will ensure the best out of a trip, and even when time is limited, it is better to make the most of specific areas rather than cramming in every attraction.

It’s hard to encapsulate the magic of the Garden Route – there are many beautiful coastlines in the world. Yet, this special patch of Africa stands out as a truly extraordinary destination. Perhaps it has to do with the fact that the Garden Route offers everything from dramatic scenery, hiking and wilderness adventures to beach holidays, scuba diving and wine farms, all in the same vicinity. The eclectic collection of local artists, writers, musicians, retirees, and big-city escapees who have chosen to live there adds to the vibrant atmosphere. Whatever it may be, it is undeniable that the Garden Route casts a kind of spell over those fortunate enough to explore its many wonders.

For more on the this magnificent piece of South Africa, read The Secret Garden Route

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South Africa

Travel Advisory February 5, 2024

South africa - level 2: exercise increased caution.

Updated to reflect safety consideration when using GPS navigation. 

Exercise increased caution in South Africa due to  crime  and  civil unrest . 

Country Summary:   Violent crime, such as armed robbery, rape, carjacking, mugging, and "smash-and-grab" attacks on vehicles, is common. There is a higher risk of violent crime in the central business districts of major cities after dark.

Using GPS navigation can lead to unsafe routes. GPS navigation may suggest shortcuts through townships as the quickest preferred route but can lead to increased risks of crime.

There have been incidents in which tourists traveling in Cape Town while using GPS navigation apps have been routed through residential areas with high rates of violent crime. The safest approach to return a rental car to Cape Town International Airport is to take the N2 highway and follow signs to Airport Approach Rd ( exit 16 ). Alternatively, request the rental car company to collect your vehicle and subsequently arrange an airport transfer from established taxi companies or established ridesharing services to reach the airport.

Demonstrations, protests, and strikes occur frequently. These can develop quickly without prior notification, often interrupting traffic, transportation, and other services; such events have the potential to turn violent. 

Please see our  Alerts  for up-to-date information. 

Read the  country information page  for additional information on travel to South Africa. 

 If you decide to travel to South Africa: 

• Research your route in advance, stay on major highways, avoid shortcuts through townships, and avoid reliance on GPS navigation apps.
• Avoid walking alone, especially after dark. 
• Avoid visiting informal settlement areas unless you are with someone familiar with the area. 
• Do not display cash or valuables. 
• Drive with doors locked and windows closed. 
• Always carry a copy of your U.S. passport and visa (if applicable). Keep original documents in a secure location. 
• Enroll in the  Smart Traveler Enrollment Program  ( STEP ) to receive Alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency. 
• Follow the Department of State on  Facebook  and  Twitter . 
• Review the  Country Security Report  for South Africa. 
• Prepare a contingency plan for emergency situations. Review the  Traveler’s Checklist . 
• Visit the CDC page for the latest  Travel Health Information  related to your travel. 

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30 days beyond your intended date of exit from South Africa..

2 consecutive empty visa pages per entry (not including endorsement pages).

No, if visiting 90 days or less.

Yellow fever at least 10 days before arrival is required for travelers originating from or transiting through WHO-designated yellow fever countries.

ZAR 25,000; Foreign currency unlimited if declared; No Kruger coins.

ZAR 25,000; Foreign currency unlimited if amount was declared on entry; Up to 15 Kruger coins if proof purchased with foreign currency.

Embassies and Consulates

U.S. Embassy Pretoria 877 Pretorius Street, Arcadia Pretoria 0083 South Africa Telephone: +(27)(12) 431-4000 / 012-431-4000 Fax: +(27)(12) 431-5504 / 012-431-5504 The U.S. Embassy in Pretoria does not provide consular services to the public. Facebook Twitter Email: [email protected]

U.S. Consulate General Johannesburg 1 Sandton Drive (opposite Sandton City Mall) Johannesburg 2196 South Africa Telephone: +(27)(11) 290-3000 / 011-290-3000 (Monday – Thursday: 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; Friday: 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.) Emergency After-Hours Telephone: +(27) 79-111-1684 / 079-111-1684 (from within South Africa) Fax: +(27)(11) 884-0396 / 011-884-0396 Email: [email protected]

U.S. Consulate General Cape Town 2 Reddam Avenue, West Lake 7945, Cape Town, South Africa Telephone: +(27)(21) 702-7300 / 021-702-7300 (from within South Africa) Emergency After-Hours Telephone: +(27) 702-7300 / 079-111-0391 (from within South Africa) Fax: +(27)(21) 702-7493 / 021-702-7493 (from within South Africa) Email: [email protected]

U.S. Consulate General Durban 303 Dr. Pixley KaSeme Street (formerly West Street) 31st Floor Delta Towers Durban 4001 South Africa Telephone:  +(27) (31) 305-7600/031-305-7600 (from within South Africa) Emergency After-Hours Telephone:  +(27) (31) 305-7600 or +(27) 079-111-1445 / (031) 305-7600 or 079-111-1445 (from within South Africa) Fax: (+27)(31) 305-7691 / 031-305-7691 (from within South Africa) Email:   [email protected]

Destination Description

See the Department of State’s Fact Sheet on South Africa for information on U.S.-South Africa relations.

Entry, Exit and Visa Requirements

South Africa strictly enforces entry and exit requirements and other immigration laws. Failure to observe these requirements may result in the traveler being denied entry, detained, deported, or deemed inadmissible to enter South Africa in the future.

Please visit the  Department of Home Affairs website  for the most up to date entry and exit requirements.

The Embassy of the Republic of South Africa is located at 3051 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20008, telephone (202) 232-4400. Visit the  Embassy of South Africa  for the most current visa information.

Two Consecutive Blank Visa Pages:  South Africa requires travelers to have two consecutive completely blank visa pages in their passports upon every arrival in South Africa.  YOU WILL BE DENIED ENTRY  if you do not have two consecutive blank visa pages in your passport. This does not include the endorsement pages.

Traveling with minors:  There are special requirements for minors traveling through South African ports of entry. Visit the  Department of Home Affairs  website for the most up-to-date requirements for traveling with minors to or from South Africa.

Immunizations:  Travelers entering South Africa from WHO-designated countries with risk of yellow fever virus (YFV) transmission must present their current and valid International Certificate of Vaccination as approved by the World Health Organization (WHO) (“yellow card”). See the  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s South Africa page .

The U.S. Department of State is not aware of any HIV/AIDS entry restrictions for visitors to or foreign residents of South Africa. However, South Africa has a high HIV/AIDS prevalence.

Other:  Find information on  dual nationality ,  prevention of international child abduction  and  customs regulations  on our websites.

Safety and Security

Alerts regarding important safety and security information such as demonstrations, road security, and weather events are posted on the  Embassy’s website .

In South Africa the equivalent to the “911” emergency line is 10111.

The following paragraphs provide a summary, but please read the Department of State’s most recent Overseas Security Advisory Council  Country Security Report  on South Africa, which provides detailed information about safety and security concerns for travelers to South Africa.

Civil Unrest: Strikes and demonstrations occur frequently. These can develop quickly without prior notification and occasionally turn violent, and may include the burning of vehicles, buildings, or tires – which may serve as roadblocks; throwing rocks or other objects; or physical attacks. Strikes and demonstrations can also interrupt traffic and the provision of electricity, water, public transportation, fuel, and other goods and services. Periodic incidents of mob violence directed against refugees and immigrants from other African countries occur in South Africa. During labor protests, strike breakers or those perceived to be strike breakers have been violently attacked. Protests involving taxis and ride hailing services can turn violent. See Travel and Transportation section below for guidance.

Precautions:

• Avoid demonstrations and use vigilance during your movements around the country. Even events intended to be peaceful can become violent.
• Maintain caution in areas frequented by foreigners.
• Monitor news and  Alerts .

Crime: Crime in South Africa is very high. Violent crimes happen in places where people live, work, travel, or go out. This includes armed home invasions by criminal groups, which lead to assaults, rapes, and murder. Popular tourist spots and big hotels have their own security to prevent these incidents. But visitors and residents are still affected by armed robbery, rape, kidnapping, carjacking, mugging, and "smash-and-grab" attacks on vehicles. It's important to be extra careful at traffic lights and on/off ramps where cars slow down or stop. To avoid being robbed when buying jewelry or electronics outside high-end stores, many vendors offer to deliver your purchase to your home or hotel for a fee. Crime can happen anywhere and at any time, even in and around Kruger National Park. U.S. government staff and visitors have been robbed near our diplomatic facilities. It's especially important to be cautious in the central business districts (CBDs) of major cities, especially after dark. Crime victims have also been followed from OR Tambo Airport in Johannesburg and then robbed when they reach their home or hotel. 

Theft can be bold and in broad daylight. Travelers and U.S. diplomats report having cell phones stolen from their hands, as well as purses or wallets taken off counters while paying for goods at stores. Car theft and hijacking continues to plague the country, particularly in large cities. Travelers should choose secure parking options and double check locked doors before leaving a parked car.

Throughout South Africa, U.S. citizens should:

•  Avoid walking alone especially after dark.
• Avoid visiting informal settlement areas unless you are with someone familiar with the area. Please note that U.S. mission staff are required to use fully armored vehicles when visiting many townships in and around the Cape Town area and visiting hours are restricted to between 0700-1500 hours.
• Do not display cash and valuables.
• Avoid cash-in-transit vehicles both on the road, as well as ATMs when being refilled. Armed criminal gangs frequently target cash-in-transit vehicles while stopped at customer sites, but also ambush cash-in-transit vehicles while on the road. Such violent armed attacks involve automatic weapons, explosives, and gangs of criminals. Criminals frequently use remote jamming and signal interceptors with success.
• Drive with doors locked and windows closed.
• Always carry a copy of your U.S. passport and visa (if applicable). Keep original documents in a secure location.
• Avoid driving during periods of load shedding (rolling blackouts) as the roads can become extremely congested due to a lack of traffic signals. These traffic jams and slow-moving traffic can provide opportunities for smash and grab robberies.

Student Groups:  There have been instances of student groups being robbed while conducting outreach and service visits in townships. On these occasions, student groups coordinated with officials to conduct service visits and upon arrival were held and then robbed by armed perpetrators.

Demonstrations  occur frequently. They may take place in response to political or economic issues, on politically significant holidays, and during international events.

• Demonstrations can be unpredictable, avoid areas around protests and demonstrations.
• Past demonstrations have turned violent.
• Check local media for updates and traffic advisories.

Internet romance and financial scams  are prevalent in South Africa. Scams are often initiated through Internet postings/profiles or by unsolicited emails and letters. Scammers almost always pose as U.S. citizens who have no one else to turn to for help.

Tips to avoid scammers:

• Look for red flags such as individuals who say they live in a remote location, a profile that was recently created or seems to be too good to be true, the pace of the relationship is moving too quickly, or requests for money.

• Set up a phone call/video chat in the initial stages.
• Do a reverse image search on the profile picture.
• If the individual asking for help claims to be a U.S. citizen, rather than helping them, you should refer them to the closest U.S. Embassy or Consulate so we can work with local authorities to assist them.

Common scams include:

• Romance/Online dating
• Money transfers
• Lucrative sales
• Gold purchase
• Contracts with promises of large commissions
• Grandparent/Relative targeting
• Free Trip/Luggage
• Inheritance notices
• Work permits/job offers
• Bank overpayments

Technology Usage Abroad: Mobile devices are vulnerable to compromise, theft, and physical damage anywhere in the world. Best practices prior to traveling abroad include keeping all software (for operating systems and apps) updated and using virtual private network (VPN) and encrypted voice over IP (VoIP) applications if possible. Make sure that all VPN/VoIP are reputable, and U.S. based. Do not connect to unknown open Wi-Fi.

GPS navigation apps . Prior to using the GPS navigation apps, make sure you research the route to make sure it is safe. GPS navigation apps may give you the shortest route without safety consideration.

Dating apps and websites . Be careful when using dating apps and online dating websites in foreign countries as scammers may target U.S. citizens. Let your friends and family know where you are, meet in a popular public place, and avoid eating or drinking anything suspicious. Don't go to bars or nightclubs alone. 

Credit cards and ATMs. Travelers need not surrender their credit card to any vendor. They will bring a credit card machine to customers.

Be cautious when using ATMs outside of banks and reputable hotels because ATM and Credit Card skimming is common. Thieves may pretend to help you use a malfunctioning ATM and steal your ATM cards. Skimmers have also been found on machines used to pay parking tickets at shopping malls and office buildings. To avoid this risk, pay parking fees with cash. 

See the  FBI  pages for information.

Victims of Crime:

U.S. citizen victims of sexual assault or domestic violence should report crimes to the local police at 10111. Remember that local authorities are responsible for investigating and prosecuting the crime.

See our webpage on  help for U.S. victims of crime overseas .

The U.S. Consulates General in South Africa can:

• help you find appropriate medical care
• assist you in reporting a crime to the police
• contact relatives or friends with your written consent
• explain the local criminal justice process in general terms
• provide a list of local attorneys
• provide information on  victim’s compensation programs in the U.S.
• provide an emergency loan for repatriation to the United States and/or limited medical support in cases of destitution
• help you find accommodation and arrange flights home
• replace a stolen or lost passport

Terrorism Threat:  Extremists with ties to international terrorist organizations, such as al-Qai’ida, al-Shabaab, and ISIS, historically have used South Africa as a logistical hub to conduct recruitment and financial facilitation. There has been increased activity by ISIS sympathizers and supporters locally, including the placement of incendiary devices and kidnapping for ransom operations. South African authorities have periodically arrested individuals and charged them with terrorism related crimes. The U.S. Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control has publicly designated ISIS members operating in South Africa who have provided technical, financial, or material support to the terrorist group. Check the  Mission’s website  to review Alerts to U.S. citizens, and  register  with the U.S. Mission to South Africa to receive new Alerts by email during your travels.

For more information, see our Terrorism page.

Game parks and outdoor safety:  Visitors have been injured and killed by wild animals in South Africa. It is dangerous to leave your vehicle in game parks outside of designated areas. Observe all park regulations and follow the instructions of guides. Be mindful of sharks when swimming. Rip tides are common and very dangerous. Do not swim alone in isolated areas or dive into unfamiliar waters.

Hikers must be prepared for rapidly changing weather conditions and ensure they have proper clothing and supplies. Many areas, especially in the Western Cape province, experience brush fires during the summer months (December-February). These fires can burn for several days. Monitor local media and follow fire crew instructions regarding road closures and evacuations.

Tourism:  The tourism industry is regulated. Rules for best practices and safety inspections are enforced. Hazardous areas are marked with signs and professional staff are available for organized activities. If you get hurt, there is medical treatment available. Outside of big cities, it might take longer for help to come. It's a good idea for U.S. citizens to get medical evacuation insurance. U.S. citizens are strongly encouraged to purchase medical evacuation insurance.

See our webpage for more information on  insurance providers for overseas coverage .

Infrastructure:  In the country, there are often scheduled blackouts called "Load Shedding". These blackouts are meant to protect the electrical grid, but they cause the whole country to lose power for up to six hours every day. This is bad for businesses that don't have another way to get power, like hotels. Load shedding also causes traffic lights to stop working, which leads to traffic jams and more crime. It can also affect access to water, cell phone signal, fuel availability, and safety features in rural areas.

Local Laws & Special Circumstances

Criminal Penalties:  If you break local laws, even if you don't know, you can be deported, arrested, or put in prison. If you want to start a business or do a job that needs special permission, you should ask the local authorities for information before you start.

Some crimes can also be punished in the United States, even if they are not against local law. For examples, see our website on  crimes against minors abroad  and the  Department of Justice website .

Arrest Notification:  If you are arrested or held, ask police or prison officials to notify the nearest U.S. Consulate in South Africa  immediately . See our  webpage  for further information.

Counterfeit and Pirated Goods: Counterfeit and pirated goods are prevalent in many countries and may be illegal according to the local laws. Counterfeit and pirated goods may pose significant risks to consumer health and safety. You may be subject to fines and/or have to give up counterfeit and pirated goods if you bring them back to the United States. See the U.S. Customs and Border Protection website and U.S. Department of Justice website for more information.

Faith-Based Travelers: See our following webpages for details:

• Faith-Based Travel Information
• International Religious Freedom Report  
• Human Rights Report  
• Best Practices for Volunteering Abroad

LGBTQI+ Travelers:  There are no legal restrictions on same-sex sexual relations or the organization of LGBTQI+ events in South Africa.

See   our  LGBTQI+ Travel Information  page and section 6 of our  Human Rights Report  for further details.

Travelers with Disabilities:  South Africa law mandates access to buildings for persons with disabilities, but these laws are rarely enforced. Some tourist attractions, and restaurants near tourist attractions, are equipped with ramps and other options to facilitate access. Conditions vary significantly across the country.

The law in South Africa prohibits discrimination against persons with physical, sensory, intellectual and mental disabilities, and the law is enforced unevenly. Social acceptance of persons with disabilities in public is as prevalent as in the United States. Expect accessibility to be limited in public transportation, lodging, communication/information, and general infrastructure.

Students:  See our  Students Abroad  page and  FBI travel tips .

Women Travelers: South Africa has one of the highest rates of sexual assault and gender-based violence in the world. Women travelers should take special care to follow safety and security precautions listed on this page when traveling in South Africa  

See our travel tips for  Women Travelers .

Special Circumstances: Parts of South Africa may face drought conditions, water scarcity, and rainfall patterns that may be erratic. Water supplies in some areas may be affected. Water-use restrictions may be in place in the affected municipalities.

For emergency services in South Africa, dial  10111 . Ambulance services are:

• not widely available and training and availability of emergency responders may be below U.S. standards;
• not present throughout the country or are unreliable in most areas except in major cities and may;  
• not be equipped with state-of-the-art medical equipment.

We highly recommend that all travelers review the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Travelers’ Health webpage and general Traveler Advice for South Africa.

• Select your destination in the Travelers’ Health webpage .
• Review all sub-sections including the Travel Health Notices, Vaccines and Medicines, Non-Vaccine-Preventable Diseases, Stay Healthy and Safe, Healthy Travel Packing List, and After Your Trip.
• Reasons for Travel (for example: Adventure Travel, Spring Break Travel)
• Travelers with Special Considerations (for example: Allergies, Long-Term Travelers and Expatriates)
• and General Tips (for example: Traveling with Medications, Travel Vaccines)

Private medical facilities are good in urban areas and in the vicinity of game parks but limited elsewhere. Private medical facilities require a deposit before admitting patients. Pharmacies are well-stocked, but you should carry an adequate supply of prescription medication in original packaging, along with your doctor’s prescription. HIV and AIDS is a major public health concern.

The Department of State, U.S. embassies and U.S. consulates do not pay medical bills. Be aware that U.S. Medicare/Medicaid does not apply overseas. Most hospitals and doctors overseas do not accept U.S. health insurance.

Medical Insurance:  Make sure your health insurance plan provides coverage overseas. Private medical facilities will require payment before care is administered. See  insurance providers for overseas coverage . Visit the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention  for more information on type of insurance you should consider before you travel overseas. for more information on type of insurance you should consider before you travel overseas.

If your health insurance plan does not provide coverage overseas, we strongly recommend your Health Abroad .

If traveling with prescription medication, check with the  Embassy of South Africa  to ensure the medication is legal in South Africa. Always, carry your prescription medication in original packaging with your doctor’s prescription.

The following diseases are prevalent:

• Hepatitis A
• Hepatitis B
• Yellow Fever
• Leptospirosis
• Schistosomiasis
• African Tick-bite Fever
• Chikungunya
• Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever
• Rift River Valley
• Avian/Bird Flu
• Tuberculosis (TB)

Vaccinations:  Be up to date on  vaccinations  recommended by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

For further health information:

• World Health Organization
• U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

Air Quality:  Visit  Air Now Department of State  for information on air quality at U.S. Embassies and Consulates.

Air pollution is a significant problem in several major cities in South Africa. Consider the impact seasonal smog and heavy particulate pollution may have on you and consult your doctor before traveling if necessary.

The air quality varies considerably and fluctuates with the seasons. It is typically at its worst in the Winter (Southern Hemisphere). People at the greatest risk from particle pollution exposure include:

• Infants, children, and teens
• People over 65 years of age
• People with lung disease such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which includes chronic bronchitis and emphysema.
• People with heart disease or diabetes
• People who work or are active outdoors
• The U.S. Embassy maintains a list of  doctors and hospitals.  We do not endorse or recommend any specific medical provider or clinic.
• Adequate health facilities are available major cities but health care in rural areas may be below U.S. standards.
• Public medical clinics lack basic resources and supplies.
• Hospitals and doctors often require payment “up front” prior to service or admission. Credit card payment is not always available. Most hospitals and medical professionals require cash payment.

Medical Tourism and Elective Surgery

Medical tourism is a rapidly growing industry. People seeking health care overseas should understand that medical systems operate differently from those in the United States and are not subject to the same rules and regulations. Anyone interested in traveling for medical purposes should consult with their local physician before traveling and visit the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website for more information on Medical Tourism.

Visit the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website for information on Medical Tourism, the risks of medical tourism, and what you can do to prepare before traveling to South Africa.

We strongly recommend supplemental insurance to cover medical evacuation in the event of unforeseen medical complications.

Your legal options in case of malpractice are very limited in South Africa.

Although South Africa has many elective/cosmetic surgery facilities that are on par with those found in the United States, the quality of care varies widely. If you plan to undergo surgery in South Africa, make sure that emergency medical facilities are available, and professionals are accredited and qualified.

Pharmaceuticals

Exercise caution when purchasing medication overseas. Pharmaceuticals, both over the counter and requiring prescriptions, are often readily available for purchase with minimal regulation. Counterfeit medication is common and may be ineffective, the wrong strength, or contain dangerous ingredients. Medication should be purchased in consultation with a medical professional and from reputable establishments.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the Food and Drug Administration are responsible for rules governing the transport of medication back to the United States. Medication purchased abroad must meet their requirements to be legally brought back into the United States. Medication should be for personal use and must be approved for usage in the United States. Please visit the U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the Food and Drug Administration websites for more information.

Water Quality & Food Safety

In many areas, tap water is not potable. Bottled water and beverages are generally safe, although you should be aware that many restaurants and hotels serve tap water unless bottled water is specifically requested. Be aware that ice for drinks may be made using tap water.

Johannesburg is at high altitude (5,751 feet). Be aware of the symptoms of altitude sickness and take precautions before you travel. Visit the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website for more information about Travel to High Altitudes .

Adventure Travel

Visit the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website for more information about Adventure Travel .

Travel and Transportation

Road Conditions and Safety:  Road conditions are generally good in South Africa, but the road traffic death rate is nearly three times higher in South Africa than in the United States. The high incidence of road traffic mortality is due to a combination of poor driving, limited enforcement of traffic laws, road rage, aggressive driving, distracted driving, and driving under the influence of alcohol. Use extreme caution driving at night. U.S. government employees are discouraged from driving after dark outside of major metropolitan areas, except for highway travel between Pretoria and Johannesburg. Traffic lights are frequently out of order.

Traffic Laws:  Traffic in South Africa moves on the left, and the steering wheel is on the right-hand side of the car. Under South African law, all occupants of motor vehicles equipped with seatbelts are required to wear them while the vehicle is in operation. Texting or talking on a cell phone without a hands-free unit while driving is illegal. Treat all intersections with malfunctioning traffic lights as a four-way stop.

South African law does not require an international driver’s license. A valid driver’s license from any U.S. state or territory that has the signature and photo of the driver is valid to drive in South Africa for stays of less than six months.

Please refer to the  Road Safety page  for more information. Also, visit the websites of  South African Tourism  and the  South African National Roads Agency  for more information regarding local transportation trends and laws.

Public Transportation:

Taxis:  The use of individual metered taxis dispatched from established taxi companies, hotel taxis, and tour buses is recommended. U.S. government personnel are not allowed to use minibus taxis or hail taxis on the street or use a taxi stand. Minibus taxi drivers are often unlicensed and drive erratically.

Transportation Network Companies:  Transportation Network Companies (TNCs), such as Uber, also operate in South Africa. U.S. government personnel may only use TNCs with a dispatch application that provides vehicle description, license plate number, and the driver’s name, picture, user rating, and the ability to share trip information. The user should verify the information provided by the company, such as the vehicle make/model, license plate number, and driver’s name/picture, prior to entering the vehicle. TNCs should not be used to travel outside major metropolitan areas. Pick up and drop off should not be done near a traditional taxi stand due to tensions between rideshare and taxi drivers that have resulted in altercations.

Rail Service:  The long-distance rail service, Shosholoza Meyl; the rapid rail Gautrain in Gauteng Province; and luxury rail services, such as Shosholoza Meyl Premier Classe, Blue Train, and Rovos Rail are generally safe and reliable, though mechanical problems and criminal incidents do sometimes occur. U.S. government personnel are not allowed to use the Metrorail commuter rail service because of safety and crime concerns. There have been recent reports of fires being set on Metrorail train cars.

See our Road Safety page for more information. Visit the website of South Africa’s Road Safety authority and Traffic Management Corporation. 

Aviation Safety Oversight:  The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has assessed the government of South Africa’s Civil Aviation Authority as being in compliance with International Civil Aviation Organization aviation safety standards for oversight of South Africa’s air carrier operations. Further information may be found on the  FAA’s safety assessment page .

Maritime Travel:  Mariners planning travel to South Africa should also check for  U.S. maritime advisories  and  alerts  on the Maritime Administration website. Information may also be posted to the websites of the  U.S. Coast Guard  and the  National Geospace Intelligence Agency  (select “broadcast warnings”).

For additional travel information

• Enroll in the  Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP)  to receive security messages and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.
• Call us in Washington, D.C. at 1-888-407-4747 (toll-free in the United States and Canada) or 1-202-501-4444 (from all other countries) from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Eastern Standard Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).
• See the  State Department’s travel website  for the  Worldwide Caution  and  Travel Advisories .
• Follow us on  Twitter  and  Facebook .
• See  traveling safely abroad  for useful travel tips.

Review information about International Parental Child Abduction in South Africa . For additional IPCA-related information, please see the International Child Abduction Prevention and Return Act ( ICAPRA ) report.

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The Garden Route: South Africa's ultimate road trip

Dec 11, 2019 • 5 min read

The ocean view form the village of Brenton near Knysna, South Africa © Chiara Salvadori / Getty

It’s one of the most popular parts of South Africa for visitors both local and international. Stretching some 200km, a Garden Route  road trip takes in national parks, dense forests, placid lakes and some outrageously beautiful beaches.

Known as much for its outdoor activities as its natural beauty, along the way you can learn to surf, leap into water-filled canyons, dive to shipwrecks or simply sit on board a yacht admiring the view with a glass of local bubbly in hand. Starting from the west, follow this article for the ultimate South African road trip along the Garden Route. 

Stop 1: Mossely Bay & the sea

Most people use Mossel Bay as a leg-stretching stop en route from Cape Town to the heart of the Garden Route, but if you can spare an afternoon, there’s really quite a lot to keep you occupied. If you’re just lunching, try Kaai 4 , an open-air braai restaurant, where traditional dishes are cooked over massive fire pits. If you have an hour or so, the Dias Museum is well laid-out and offers a look into the Mossel Bay of 500 years ago, when European explorers landed on South African shores for the first time. If you do decide to stay the night, book ahead for a morning surf class – Mossel Bay’s top activity and a great way to revive before settling back in the car.

The highway between Mossel Bay and George is fairly busy and not exactly send-a-postcard-home pretty, but from here things take a turn for the photogenic. George is the area’s largest town, but its appeal lies largely in amenities rather than attractions. If you are looking to stop in the area, head instead for one of George’s satellite towns, both clinging to the coast at the end of meandering roads. Victoria Bay and Herolds Bay are known for their surf and there’s little else to do, which is the basis of their appeal. If you’re not a surfer, opt for a simple seafood lunch while admiring the dramatic maritime views.

Read more: Cape Town: a wildlife lover's playground

Stop 2: Wilderness & Garden Route National Park

Head back to the main highway and take the short but scenic drive to Wilderness. Pull over at Dolphin Point for a peek at the decommissioned train line below and for photos of the wild and blissfully undeveloped Wilderness Beach. Wilderness somehow manages to remain under the radar of many Garden Route visitors. The town centre is little more than a supermarket and a few restaurants clustered around a gas station but the forest-meets-lake-meets-beach landscape makes it one of the loveliest places to stop on a route.

Perhaps the best thing to do here is to rent a canoe in the Garden Route National Park and explore the lake system. If you’re just looking for lunch, try the Timberlake Organic Village , right on the N2 hwy. The restaurant here, Zucchini , is known for its fresh country cuisine or if you prefer to snack, a cluster of shops sells artisanal edibles.

Stop 3: Knysna & the lagoon

The road dips and climbs slightly for 23km until you pass through Sedgefield, largely known for its busy Saturday morning market . As the road rises out of Sedgefield, the panorama changes to reflect the huge forest fire that ripped through the area in June 2017. Following ample winter rains, the forest is on the mend but the dense greenery that once lined either side of the highway will take years to fully recover.

Read more: Robben Island: tour the prison with Mandela's former guard and close friend

Despite all that, Knysna proved itself a veritable phoenix, with hotels and homes rebuilt and almost all of the forest-based activities up and running again. If you do just two things while in town, opt for a hike through the forest and a boat trip on the lagoon . The lagoon and its infamous Heads – sandstone headlands forming a narrow channel from lagoon to ocean – are the soul of the beautiful town, with the forest its lungs. Its heart though, beats in the adjoining townships, known as the Northern Communities. Take time to meet a few locals, sample traditional cuisine and tackle the clicks of the Xhosa language on a three-hour visit with Emzini Tours or join Brother Zeb for an impassioned wander around Judah Square, a friendly Rastafarian community.

Stop 4: Plettenberg Bay & Robberg Nature Reserve

Once you crest the hill that houses the townships, you find the road soon flanked by dense forest. It’s a pleasant and pretty 35km drive to Plettenberg Bay , with plenty of curiosities along the way.

Read more: 10 alternative ways to explore the V&A Waterfront

Plett, as it is invariably known, is an upmarket holiday town with a few snazzy restaurants and some of the coast’s best beaches. It’s a great place to unwind on the sand, but if you prefer to be in the ocean than next to it, sign up to swim in the seal-infested waters of the Robberg Nature Reserve.

East of Plett, the towns begin to fizzle out and things start to feel a little wilder. It’s also where you can swap adventure for gastronomy at one of the local wineries. Bramon was the first wine estate in the region and makes for a marvellous lunch stop, where you can enjoy a tasting and tapas among the vines.

Stop 5: Storms River & Tsitsikamma

The final stretch of the journey takes you over vertiginous bridges crossing canyons, past virgin forests and into the Eastern Cape . The tiny town of Storms River exists almost entirely for tourists, but still manages to charm with its little grid of unpaved roads lined with places to stay, eat and play. Adventure sports abound here thanks to the town’s proximity to what locals like to call "the garden of the Garden Route", Tsitsikamma.

Part of the large and scattered Garden Route National Park, Tsitsikamma is an old Khoe-San word meaning "place of much water" and whether they were referring to the wide rivers, the crashing ocean or the fact that the park receives close to 1000mm of rainfall each year, the moniker is well deserved.

All that rain makes for a magnificent landscape as indigenous forest clings to the mountains which meet the rivers and ocean below. It is here that you ditch your car and pull out the hiking boots for a walk that could last anything from 45 minutes to five glorious days.

This article was first published Aug 24, 2018 and updated Dec 11, 2019.

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COVID-19: travel health notice for all travellers

South Africa travel advice

Latest updates: Editorial change

Last updated: June 4, 2024 08:03 ET

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Safety and security, entry and exit requirements, laws and culture, natural disasters and climate, south africa - exercise a high degree of caution.

Exercise a high degree of caution in South Africa due to the significant level of serious crime.

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General elections are scheduled for May 29, 2024. Demonstrations could occur before, during and after the elections.

Demonstrations can occur anywhere in South Africa and sometimes on short notice.

Even peaceful demonstrations can turn violent at any time. They can also lead to disruptions to traffic and public transportation.

• Avoid areas where demonstrations and large gatherings are taking place
• Follow the instructions of local authorities
• Monitor local media for information on ongoing demonstrations

Nationwide power shortages or rolling blackouts, referred to as load shedding, are still occurring regularly. They are occurring numerous times a day and for multiple-hour stretches. They are expected to continue through 2023 and into 2024.  

Though the potential for a nationwide blackout is low, the associated risks are high, including a nationwide loss of power for days or weeks.

South Africa has already experienced blackouts for up to 12 hours in a 24 hour period. Increased demand for power during the coldest winter months of June and July means that blackouts could last longer. Expect a dark and cold winter.

An official schedule of the planned blackouts provides advance notice of the shortages. However, they can also occur with very little notice. 

Blackouts could increase the risk of criminal activity in affected areas, which could in turn lead to opportunistic theft and prolonged outages.

Blackouts can affect the following services and businesses:

• telecommunications and security systems
• stores and food supply
• hotels and other accommodations
• banks and ATMs
• gas stations
• public lighting and traffic lights

Interruptions to water supply occur occasionally and can be lengthy in some areas, causing considerable inconvenience.

If you’re in South Africa:

• be prepared for extended power outages
• make sure you always have a complete emergency kit on hand, including several flashlights
• always carry a cell phone, power banks, chargers and a list of emergency numbers handy 
• keep a sufficient supply of water, food, medication and fuel on hand for several days
• keep your travel documents up-to-date
• monitor local media
• follow the instructions of local authorities

Useful links

• List of planned blackouts  - Eskom, South African electricity public utility
• Get Prepared - basic emergency kit

Violent crime

South Africa has a very high level of crime. Crime is the primary security threat to travellers.

Violent crimes, including rape and murder, occur frequently and have involved foreigners.

Muggings, armed assaults and theft are also frequent, often occurring in areas that are popular among tourists. Carjackings, robbery and assault also occur.

Armed robberies at shopping malls occur. To minimize the risk of personal assault if confronted by an armed individual:

• immediately comply
• avoid making sudden movements
• avoid resisting or antagonizing the assailants
• avoid eye contact with your assailant

Crime significantly increases after dark in major city centres and townships. After dark, avoid the areas of:

• Hillbrow and Yeoville in Johannesburg
• Sunnyside in Pretoria
• the beachfront and Victoria wharf in Durban
• Cape Town downtown hotels to the waterfront

Crimes of opportunity

There is a high risk of pickpocketing. You should not carry your wallet in your back pocket.

Do not show signs of affluence, display money or carry valuables such as laptop computers or cameras.

When at restaurants or bars, do not leave your bag under your chair or table or hung over the back of a chair; keep it on your lap.

Ensure that all your bags’ zippers, straps and fasteners are closed and secure, and be aware of people behind and around you.

Criminals are known to target people who appear distracted and are not paying attention to their immediate surroundings.

If you believe that you are being followed, go directly to a police station.

Crime in and around airports

Passengers have been followed upon arrival at airports and then robbed either on their way to or once they arrived at their final destination. There are also reports of theft from checked luggage.

Some areas around Cape Town International Airport are less secure. There are reports of an increased risk of attack on secondary roads near the airport.

When travelling to and from an airport:

• stay on highways and main roads
• avoid shortcuts
• if you are using a GPS, make sure that the itinerary avoid townships and secondary roads
• plan your trip in advance and verify your travel itinerary with a trusted local source
• consider arranging an airport transfer

On the road

Be vigilant at vulnerable points such as:

• traffic lights
• yield signs
• highway off-ramps

Smash and grab incidents are frequent. This is when car windows are broken and valuables such as handbags are taken while cars are waiting at junctions.

• Park in well-lit areas
• Do not pick up strangers
• Ensure that vehicle doors are locked and windows are closed at all times

Hotel theft

Theft from hotel rooms and guest houses is common. Never leave your windows or doors open or unlocked, even when you are present.

• Check the level of security at guest houses, hotels, lodges, backpacker lodges or any accommodation before making bookings
• Don’t leave luggage and valuables unattended; place them in safekeeping facilities
• Don’t open the door to anyone without taking necessary precautions. If someone claims to be a member of staff, verify with the reception prior to opening the door

Police officer impersonation

Criminals may pose as police officers to extort or rob tourists. There are reports that criminals use fake IDs and flashing blue lights to stop cars with the intent to rob the passengers or steal the vehicle. 

If you face this situation:

• do not stop your vehicle
• put on your hazard lights and continue to the nearest police station or secure location

There is a threat of kidnapping across South Africa. Foreign nationals have been kidnapped in the past. Kidnappings are generally for financial gain or motivated by criminality.

Scammers could kidnap you to extort money from your loved ones in exchange for your release.

• Be wary of online romance, employment and money scams
• Never accept an invitation to travel to an unfamiliar location
• If you think you've been scammed, do not travel overseas to get your money back

Demonstrations

Demonstrations can occur anywhere across the country and sometimes on short notice. Even peaceful demonstrations can turn violent at any time. They can also lead to disruptions to traffic and public transportation.

Mass gatherings (large-scale events)

Cases of attempted fraud are frequently reported in South Africa. Do not give personal or financial account information to anyone.

Don’t attempt to use ATMs that appear damaged or defective, or are in isolated or poorly lit areas. Don’t accept any offer of assistance with your transaction. If suspicious at any time, cancel your transaction and use another ATM.

• Pay careful attention when your cards are being handled by others
• Use ATMs located in well-lit public areas or inside a bank or business
• Avoid using card readers with an irregular or unusual feature
• Cover the keypad with one hand when entering your PIN
• Check for any unauthorized transactions on your account statements

Overseas fraud

Reserves and hiking trails

There have been attacks on hikers and tourists at reserves, hiking trails, including Table Mountain, Lions’ Head, Signal Hill and other tourist attractions and their parking lots.

Avoid the Numbi Gate entrance to the Kruger National Park, as well as the R538 road leading to it due to an increase in criminal activity in the area, including the murder of a foreign national in October 2022.

• Hike in groups and take all appropriate precautions
• Avoid isolated picnic areas and beaches
• Don’t stop at deserted roadside resting places on national roads

Spiked food and drink

There have been incidents of food or drink being drugged and tourists robbed when unconscious.

Never leave food or drinks unattended or in the care of strangers. Be wary of accepting snacks, beverages, gum or cigarettes from new acquaintances. These items may contain drugs that could put you at risk of sexual assault and robbery.

There is a threat of terrorism. Terrorist attacks could occur at any time. Individuals who may be inspired by terrorist groups may carry out “lone actor” attacks targeting public places, including where foreigners gather.

Targets could include:

• government buildings, including schools
• places of worship
• airports and other transportation hubs and networks
• public areas such as tourist attractions, restaurants, bars, coffee shops, shopping centres, markets, hotels and other sites frequented by foreigners

South African authorities have successfully disrupted planned attacks and made arrests related to terrorism offences. Always be aware of your surroundings when in public places.

Regional unrest

Xenophobic attacks, primarily targeting refugees or immigrants from other African nations, related demonstrations, looting and outbreaks of violence occur. This type of unrest could occur in any region of the country and with little warning.

Avoid large gatherings and demonstrations, monitor local media and follow the instructions of local authorities at all times.

Townships and rural areas

Avoid townships and informal settlements if you are unfamiliar with them, except when travelling with organized tours provided by a reputable company or in association with an experienced local organization.

Wildlife viewing

Wildlife viewing poses risks, particularly on foot or at close range. Be aware of the threat of monkeys and baboons overwhelming sightseers in their search for food. They are known to get very aggressive.

• Always maintain a safe distance when observing wildlife
• Only exit a vehicle when a professional guide or warden says it’s safe to do so
• Only use reputable and professional guides or tour operators
• Closely follow park regulations and wardens’ advice

Water activities

Coastal waters have unpredictable wave and currents patterns, which can be dangerous. Shark attacks have been reported in several areas, including in KwaZulu-Natal and Western Cape.

• Follow the advice and warnings of local authorities
• Be cautious when swimming in lakes and rivers because of the risk posed by wildlife

Water safety abroad

Telecommunications

Cellular phone reception is generally good in major towns and cities but can be intermittent in rural areas. Extended periods of rolling blackouts are impacting internet connectivity and cell phone networks.

Always carry a cellular phone in the event of an emergency. If using your own phone, ensure that it has international/roaming capability for use while in South Africa.

Road safety

Fatal road accidents are common in South Africa.  Accidents occur especially in wet conditions, as roads can be very slippery. Traffic lights are frequently out of order. GPS navigation systems may suggest the most direct route but not the safest.

• Observe the recommended following distances
• Avoid undertaking overland travel after dark
• Treat all intersections with malfunctioning traffic lights as a four-way stop
• Verify your travel itinerary with a trusted local source, such as your hotel, your travel agent or local police, before driving

Road conditions

Driving can be dangerous due to:

• insufficient lighting
• pedestrians crossing major highways
• wild animals and stray livestock on the road

Driving habits

Drivers do not always respect traffic laws, especially at night. Drivers often drive at excess speed and ignore traffic signs. Drinking and driving is common.

Drivers are often aggressive toward pedestrians and fail to yield the right of way even on marked crosswalks.

Travel on foot is inadvisable in most areas. If walking is unavoidable, use only brightly lit, busy streets in popular tourist areas and maintain awareness of your surroundings.

If you choose to drive in South Africa:

• always drive defensively
• plan your trip in advance, especially if you are visiting a rural area
• avoid travelling after dark
• choose a vehicle with a robust central locking system, lockable fuel tank cap and vehicle alarm
• use a reliable rental company offering 24-hour emergency service and ensure that you have the contact details for the service

Public transportation

Avoid using public transportation.

Tourists have been mugged and assaulted in and around bus stations. Avoid the central bus station in Johannesburg.

Train services are slow and several serious accidents in recent years have raised concerns over safety standards.

Violent attacks have occurred on commuter and metro trains between Johannesburg and Pretoria, as well as on commuter trains in Cape Town. Don’t travel by train, especially second or third class.

The Gautrain between O.R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg and Pretoria, as well as the Blue Train and Rovos Rail, are, however, safe for tourists.

Taxis cannot be hailed in the street. Ask your hotel to arrange a taxi and ensure that you prearrange transport for your return journey.

Sit in the rear of the vehicle and keep windows up and doors locked at all times. Keep valuables out of sight and place bags by your feet. Negotiate the fare with the driver in advance. Avoid using minibuses and unlicensed taxis.

We do not make assessments on the compliance of foreign domestic airlines with international safety standards.

Information about foreign domestic airlines

Every country or territory decides who can enter or exit through its borders. The Government of Canada cannot intervene on your behalf if you do not meet your destination’s entry or exit requirements.

We have obtained the information on this page from South African authorities. It can, however, change at any time.

Verify this information with the  Foreign Representatives in Canada .

Entry requirements vary depending on the type of passport you use for travel.

Before you travel, check with your transportation company about passport requirements. Its rules on passport validity may be more stringent than the country’s entry rules.

Regular Canadian passport

You may also be denied boarding at the point of departure if you don’t have enough blank pages for the visa. If you plan to visit neighbouring countries and return to South Africa, ensure that there are sufficient visa pages in your passport for those countries’ visas and those of South Africa.

Passport for official travel

Different entry rules may apply.

Official travel

Passport with “X” gender identifier

While the Government of Canada issues passports with an “X” gender identifier, it cannot guarantee your entry or transit through other countries. You might face entry restrictions in countries that do not recognize the “X” gender identifier. Before you leave, check with the closest foreign representative for your destination.

Other travel documents

Different entry rules may apply when travelling with a temporary passport or an emergency travel document. Before you leave, check with the closest foreign representative for your destination.

• Foreign Representatives in Canada
• Canadian passports

Tourist visa: not required for stays up to 90 days Business visa: not required for stays up to 90 days Student permit: required Employment permit: required

Canadians don't need a tourist visa to enter South Africa. However, upon arrival, immigration officials will issue a temporary residents visa (TRV) for up to 90 days. Check the expiry date of your TRV to ensure you don’t overstay.

If you overstay without authority, you may be forced to pay a fine upon departure and/or can be refused entry for up to 5 years.

Serious offenders may be arrested before departure and detained until their court appearance. In such cases, visitors may face a very substantial fine and be deported at their own expense.

South African visas - South African Department of Home Affairs

Changing or extending your visa

Some foreigners travelling to South Africa have not gone through the correct channels to obtain, change or extend their relevant visas. This has resulted in arrest and detention due to fraudulently issued visas.

While in South Africa, you must go through regional or district offices of the South African Department of Home Affairs for information on visa requirements and issuance.

Regional travel

If you leave and re-enter South Africa, even for a short time, you will not automatically be given an additional 90-day visitor’s visa. An immigration official can deny you re-entry into South Africa. The immigration officer can also allow you to enter for a limited time only.

If you wish to extend your stay, contact the South African Department of Home Affairs 60 days before your visitor’s visa expires.

South African Department of Home Affairs contact information

Work or study

If you intend to work or study in South Africa, you must apply for the relevant visas prior to your arrival; otherwise, you risk being refused entry and may be returned to your point of origin. You cannot change the type of visa once in South Africa.

Other entry requirements

You must be in possession of a return or an onward ticket. Without one, you may be required to deposit the equivalent of a fare home with customs. The money will be refunded after departure from South Africa.

Residence permit

If you reside in South Africa, you must have valid residence permit in your passport each time you enter and leave the country.

Dual citizenship

Dual citizens must enter or depart South Africa using their South African passport only.

For further information on dual citizenship, contact the High Commission for the Republic of South Africa in Ottawa.

• Children and travel

Minors traveling to and from South Africa must have a valid passport and may be subject to additional requirements.

You must produce a long form birth certificate when travelling with children under the age of 18 to neighbouring countries. The long form birth certificate must be in English or translated into English.

Contact the nearest South African mission abroad or visit the South African Department of Home Affairs website, before travelling, to verify the latest requirements.

• Entry regulations when travelling with children  - South African Department of Home Affairs
• Travelling with children

Yellow fever

Learn about potential entry requirements related to yellow fever (vaccines section).

Relevant Travel Health Notices

• Global Measles Notice - 13 March, 2024
• COVID-19 and International Travel - 13 March, 2024

This section contains information on possible health risks and restrictions regularly found or ongoing in the destination. Follow this advice to lower your risk of becoming ill while travelling. Not all risks are listed below.

Consult a health care professional or visit a travel health clinic preferably 6 weeks before you travel to get personalized health advice and recommendations.

Routine vaccines

Be sure that your  routine vaccinations , as per your province or territory , are up-to-date before travelling, regardless of your destination.

Some of these vaccinations include measles-mumps-rubella (MMR), diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, varicella (chickenpox), influenza and others.

Pre-travel vaccines and medications

You may be at risk for preventable diseases while travelling in this destination. Talk to a travel health professional about which medications or vaccines may be right for you, based on your destination and itinerary. 

Yellow fever   is a disease caused by a flavivirus from the bite of an infected mosquito.

Travellers get vaccinated either because it is required to enter a country or because it is recommended for their protection.

• There is no risk of yellow fever in this country.

Country Entry Requirement*

• Proof of vaccination is required if you are coming from or have transited through an airport of a country   where yellow fever occurs.

Recommendation

• Vaccination is not recommended.
• Discuss travel plans, activities, and destinations with a health care professional.
• Contact a designated  Yellow Fever Vaccination Centre  well in advance of your trip to arrange for vaccination.

About Yellow Fever

Yellow Fever Vaccination Centres in Canada * It is important to note that  country entry requirements  may not reflect your risk of yellow fever at your destination. It is recommended that you contact the nearest  diplomatic or consular office  of the destination(s) you will be visiting to verify any additional entry requirements.

There is a risk of hepatitis A in this destination. It is a disease of the liver. People can get hepatitis A if they ingest contaminated food or water, eat foods prepared by an infectious person, or if they have close physical contact (such as oral-anal sex) with an infectious person, although casual contact among people does not spread the virus.

Practise  safe food and water precautions and wash your hands often. Vaccination is recommended for all travellers to areas where hepatitis A is present.

Malaria  is a serious and sometimes fatal disease that is caused by parasites spread through the bites of mosquitoes.   There is a risk of malaria in certain areas and/or during a certain time of year in this destination. 

Antimalarial medication may be recommended depending on your itinerary and the time of year you are travelling. Consult a health care professional or visit a travel health clinic before travelling to discuss your options. It is recommended to do this 6 weeks before travel, however, it is still a good idea any time before leaving.    Protect yourself from mosquito bites at all times:  • Cover your skin and use an approved insect repellent on uncovered skin.  • Exclude mosquitoes from your living area with screening and/or closed, well-sealed doors and windows. • Use insecticide-treated bed nets if mosquitoes cannot be excluded from your living area.  • Wear permethrin-treated clothing.    If you develop symptoms similar to malaria when you are travelling or up to a year after you return home, see a health care professional immediately. Tell them where you have been travelling or living. 

In this destination, rabies is commonly carried by dogs and some wildlife, including bats. Rabies is a deadly disease that spreads to humans primarily through bites or scratches from an infected animal. While travelling, take precautions , including keeping your distance from animals (including free-roaming dogs), and closely supervising children.

If you are bitten or scratched by a dog or other animal while travelling, immediately wash the wound with soap and clean water and see a health care professional. In this destination, rabies treatment may be limited or may not be available, therefore you may need to return to Canada for treatment.  

Before travel, discuss rabies vaccination with a health care professional. It may be recommended for travellers who are at high risk of exposure (e.g., occupational risk such as veterinarians and wildlife workers, children, adventure travellers and spelunkers, and others in close contact with animals). 

Measles is a highly contagious viral disease. It can spread quickly from person to person by direct contact and through droplets in the air.

Anyone who is not protected against measles is at risk of being infected with it when travelling internationally.

Regardless of where you are going, talk to a health care professional before travelling to make sure you are fully protected against measles.

  Hepatitis B is a risk in every destination. It is a viral liver disease that is easily transmitted from one person to another through exposure to blood and body fluids containing the hepatitis B virus.  Travellers who may be exposed to blood or other bodily fluids (e.g., through sexual contact, medical treatment, sharing needles, tattooing, acupuncture or occupational exposure) are at higher risk of getting hepatitis B.

Hepatitis B vaccination is recommended for all travellers. Prevent hepatitis B infection by practicing safe sex, only using new and sterile drug equipment, and only getting tattoos and piercings in settings that follow public health regulations and standards.

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an infectious viral disease. It can spread from person to person by direct contact and through droplets in the air.

It is recommended that all eligible travellers complete a COVID-19 vaccine series along with any additional recommended doses in Canada before travelling. Evidence shows that vaccines are very effective at preventing severe illness, hospitalization and death from COVID-19. While vaccination provides better protection against serious illness, you may still be at risk of infection from the virus that causes COVID-19. Anyone who has not completed a vaccine series is at increased risk of being infected with the virus that causes COVID-19 and is at greater risk for severe disease when travelling internationally.

Before travelling, verify your destination’s COVID-19 vaccination entry/exit requirements. Regardless of where you are going, talk to a health care professional before travelling to make sure you are adequately protected against COVID-19.

 The best way to protect yourself from seasonal influenza (flu) is to get vaccinated every year. Get the flu shot at least 2 weeks before travelling.  

 The flu occurs worldwide. 

•  In the Northern Hemisphere, the flu season usually runs from November to   April.
•  In the Southern Hemisphere, the flu season usually runs between April and   October.
•  In the tropics, there is flu activity year round. 

The flu vaccine available in one hemisphere may only offer partial protection against the flu in the other hemisphere.

The flu virus spreads from person to person when they cough or sneeze or by touching objects and surfaces that have been contaminated with the virus. Clean your hands often and wear a mask if you have a fever or respiratory symptoms.

Safe food and water precautions

Many illnesses can be caused by eating food or drinking beverages contaminated by bacteria, parasites, toxins, or viruses, or by swimming or bathing in contaminated water.

• Learn more about food and water precautions to take to avoid getting sick by visiting our eat and drink safely abroad page. Remember: Boil it, cook it, peel it, or leave it!
• Avoid getting water into your eyes, mouth or nose when swimming or participating in activities in freshwater (streams, canals, lakes), particularly after flooding or heavy rain. Water may look clean but could still be polluted or contaminated.
• Avoid inhaling or swallowing water while bathing, showering, or swimming in pools or hot tubs. 

Travellers' diarrhea is the most common illness affecting travellers. It is spread from eating or drinking contaminated food or water.

Risk of developing travellers' diarrhea increases when travelling in regions with poor standards of hygiene and sanitation. Practise safe food and water precautions.

The most important treatment for travellers' diarrhea is rehydration (drinking lots of fluids). Carry oral rehydration salts when travelling.

Typhoid   is a bacterial infection spread by contaminated food or water. Risk is higher among children, travellers going to rural areas, travellers visiting friends and relatives or those travelling for a long period of time.

Travellers visiting regions with a risk of typhoid, especially those exposed to places with poor sanitation, should speak to a health care professional about vaccination.  

There is a risk of schistosomiasis in this destination. Schistosomiasis is a parasitic disease caused by tiny worms (blood flukes) which can be found in freshwater (lakes, rivers, ponds, and wetlands). The worms can break the skin, and their eggs can cause stomach pain, diarrhea, flu-like symptoms, or urinary problems. Schistosomiasis mostly affects underdeveloped and r ural communities, particularly agricultural and fishing communities.

Most travellers are at low risk. Travellers should avoid contact with untreated freshwater such as lakes, rivers, and ponds (e.g., swimming, bathing, wading, ingesting). There is no vaccine or medication available to prevent infection.

Insect bite prevention

Many diseases are spread by the bites of infected insects such as mosquitoes, ticks, fleas or flies. When travelling to areas where infected insects may be present:

• Use insect repellent (bug spray) on exposed skin
• Cover up with light-coloured, loose clothes made of tightly woven materials such as nylon or polyester
• Minimize exposure to insects
• Use mosquito netting when sleeping outdoors or in buildings that are not fully enclosed

To learn more about how you can reduce your risk of infection and disease caused by bites, both at home and abroad, visit our insect bite prevention page.

Find out what types of insects are present where you’re travelling, when they’re most active, and the symptoms of the diseases they spread.

There is a risk of chikungunya in this country.  The risk may vary between regions of a country.  Chikungunya is a virus spread through the bite of an infected mosquito. Chikungunya can cause a viral disease that typically causes fever and pain in the joints. In some cases, the joint pain can be severe and last for months or years.

Protect yourself from mosquito bites at all times. There is no vaccine available for chikungunya.

Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever is a viral disease that can cause fever, pain and bleeding under the skin.  In some cases, it can be fatal.  It spreads to humans through contact with infected animal blood or tissues, or from the bite of an infected tick.  Risk is generally low for most travellers.  Protect yourself from tick bites and avoid animals, particularly livestock.  There is no vaccine available for Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever.

Rift Valley fever is a viral disease that can cause severe flu-like symptoms. In some cases, it can be fatal. It is spread to humans through contact with infected animal blood or tissues, from the bite of an infected mosquito, or eating or drinking unpasteurized dairy. Risk is generally low for most travellers. Protect yourself from insect bites and avoid animals, particularly livestock, and unpasteurized dairy. There is no vaccine available for Rift Valley fever.

Animal precautions

Some infections, such as rabies and influenza, can be shared between humans and animals. Certain types of activities may increase your chance of contact with animals, such as travelling in rural or forested areas, camping, hiking, and visiting wet markets (places where live animals are slaughtered and sold) or caves.

Travellers are cautioned to avoid contact with animals, including dogs, livestock (pigs, cows), monkeys, snakes, rodents, birds, and bats, and to avoid eating undercooked wild game.

Closely supervise children, as they are more likely to come in contact with animals.

Person-to-person infections

Stay home if you’re sick and practise proper cough and sneeze etiquette , which includes coughing or sneezing into a tissue or the bend of your arm, not your hand. Reduce your risk of colds, the flu and other illnesses by:

•   washing your hands often
• avoiding or limiting the amount of time spent in closed spaces, crowded places, or at large-scale events (concerts, sporting events, rallies)
• avoiding close physical contact with people who may be showing symptoms of illness 

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) , HIV , and mpox are spread through blood and bodily fluids; use condoms, practise safe sex, and limit your number of sexual partners. Check with your local public health authority pre-travel to determine your eligibility for mpox vaccine.  

Tuberculosis is an infection caused by bacteria and usually affects the lungs.

For most travellers the risk of tuberculosis is low.

Travellers who may be at high risk while travelling in regions with risk of tuberculosis should discuss pre- and post-travel options with a health care professional.

High-risk travellers include those visiting or working in prisons, refugee camps, homeless shelters, or hospitals, or travellers visiting friends and relatives.

HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus)   is a virus that attacks and impairs the immune system, resulting in a chronic, progressive illness known as AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome). 

High risk activities include anything which puts you in contact with blood or body fluids, such as unprotected sex and exposure to unsterilized needles for medications or other substances (for example, steroids and drugs), tattooing, body-piercing or acupuncture.

Medical services and facilities

Medical facilities and supplies are widely available in large cities but can be expensive. Medical facilities are limited in remote areas.

Public and private health facilities require an up-front cash deposit for services, guarantee of payment or confirmation of medical insurance before commencing treatment.

Air evacuation may be the only option when faced with a medical emergency in remote areas.

Decompression chambers are available in many hospitals.

Make sure you get travel insurance that includes coverage for medical evacuation and hospital stays.

Travel health and safety

Keep in Mind...

The decision to travel is the sole responsibility of the traveller. The traveller is also responsible for his or her own personal safety.

Be prepared. Do not expect medical services to be the same as in Canada. Pack a   travel health kit , especially if you will be travelling away from major city centres.

You must abide by local laws.

Learn about what you should do and how we can help if you are arrested or detained abroad .

Penalties for using, importing or exporting drugs are severe and may include lengthy imprisonment.

Drugs, alcohol and travel

You may not import or take in-transit any firearm or ammunition without a temporary export and import or in-transit permit issued by the South African Police Service. 

Dual citizenship is legally recognized in South Africa.

If you are a Canadian citizen, but also a citizen of South Africa, our ability to offer you consular services may be limited while you're there. You may also be subject to different entry/exit requirements .

Travellers with dual citizenship

International Child Abduction

The Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction is an international treaty. It can help parents with the return of children who have been removed to or retained in certain countries in violation of custody rights. The convention applies between Canada and South Africa.

If your child was wrongfully taken to, or is being held in South Africa, and if the applicable conditions are met, you may apply for the return of your child to the South African court.

If you are in this situation:

• act as quickly as you can
• contact the Central Authority for your province or territory of residence for information on starting an application under The Hague Convention
• consult a lawyer in Canada and in South Africa to explore all the legal options for the return of your child
• report the situation to the nearest Canadian government office abroad or to the Vulnerable Children's Consular Unit at Global Affairs Canada by calling the Emergency Watch and Response Centre

If your child was removed from a country other than Canada, consult a lawyer to determine if The Hague Convention applies.

Be aware that Canadian consular officials cannot interfere in private legal matters or in another country's judicial affairs.

• List of Canadian Central Authorities for the Hague Convention
• International Child Abductions: A guide for affected parents
• The Hague Convention – Hague Conference on Private International Law
• Canadian embassies and consulates by destination
• Request emergency assistance

Traffic drives on the left.

You may use your valid Canadian provincial driver’s licence in South Africa, however, an international driving permit (IDP) is strongly recommended.

It is extremely difficult to obtain car insurance for car rentals or to purchase a car without an IDP. Insurance companies and rental car agencies often require proof of a South African driver’s licence or an IDP to honour an insurance claim, even when such proof was not requested at the time the policy was secured. An IDP must be obtained in Canada before travelling to South Africa, as it cannot be obtained locally.

If your licence is in French, it is advisable to obtain a translation into English and carry it with you.

Foreigners driving a rental car across any border into neighbouring countries must obtain a permit from the Cross-border Road Transport Agency prior to arriving at the border crossing. Failure to do so may lead to arrest and/or a fine.

It is illegal to carry gasoline in portable containers.

• Obtain a permit  - Cross-border Road Transport Agency
• International Driving Permit

The currency is the South African rand (ZAR).

Canadian currency can be easily exchanged at major banks and foreign exchange counters. A passport and additional identification is required when undertaking foreign exchange transactions.

Foreigners are permitted to enter South Africa carrying a maximum of ZAR100,000, or US$10,000 or its equivalent in foreign currencies. Customs forms are not required to be completed, but random customs checks are conducted.

Rain Storms

The climate varies from region to region. Storms and flooding can occur throughout the country and at various times of the year. Flash storms can occur in Gauteng and North West provinces from November to April. There are heavy rains along the south coast from June to September and the Western Cape receives heavy rainfall between May and September. Dirt roads can become hazardous during these periods. After heavy rains, do not attempt to cross low-lying river bridges by car or on foot, as there have been fatalities linked to people being washed down river. Keep informed of regional weather forecasts and plan accordingly.

Veld (bush) fires are common during dry seasons. They are very unpredictable and extremely dangerous. They can spread very quickly and travel at speeds of 60 km/h or more, due to high winds. Stay clear of active fires and always verify local conditions with relevant authorities before going on bush walks, particularly during the dry seasons.

The Western Cape Province, including Cape Town, can experience periods of prolonged drought. Local authorities may impose water use restrictions. You could be fined if you do not comply with these restrictions.

Useful links:

• Information on water restrictions  – City of Cape Town
• Water restrictions explained –City of Cape Town  

Local services

In case of emergency, dial:

• police: 10111 or 10112 from a cellular telephone
• medical assistance: 10177
• firefighters: 10111 or 10112 from a cellular telephone

Consular assistance

South Africa, Lesotho, Madagascar, Mauritius, Namibia

For emergency consular assistance, call the High Commission of Canada in South Africa, in Pretoria, and follow the instructions. At any time, you may also contact the Emergency Watch and Response Centre in Ottawa.

The decision to travel is your choice and you are responsible for your personal safety abroad. We take the safety and security of Canadians abroad very seriously and provide credible and timely information in our Travel Advice to enable you to make well-informed decisions regarding your travel abroad.

The content on this page is provided for information only. While we make every effort to give you correct information, it is provided on an "as is" basis without warranty of any kind, expressed or implied. The Government of Canada does not assume responsibility and will not be liable for any damages in connection to the information provided.

If you need consular assistance while abroad, we will make every effort to help you. However, there may be constraints that will limit the ability of the Government of Canada to provide services.

Learn more about consular services .

Risk Levels

  take normal security precautions.

Take similar precautions to those you would take in Canada.

  Exercise a high degree of caution

There are certain safety and security concerns or the situation could change quickly. Be very cautious at all times, monitor local media and follow the instructions of local authorities.

IMPORTANT: The two levels below are official Government of Canada Travel Advisories and are issued when the safety and security of Canadians travelling or living in the country or region may be at risk.

  Avoid non-essential travel

Your safety and security could be at risk. You should think about your need to travel to this country, territory or region based on family or business requirements, knowledge of or familiarity with the region, and other factors. If you are already there, think about whether you really need to be there. If you do not need to be there, you should think about leaving.

  Avoid all travel

You should not travel to this country, territory or region. Your personal safety and security are at great risk. If you are already there, you should think about leaving if it is safe to do so.

Simple Flying

Examined: emirates' three south african routes.

Emirates has the most intercontinental flights to and from South Africa.

• Emirates offers 42 weekly flights to South Africa's three major gateways, making it the country's top intercontinental carrier.
• Johannesburg is Emirates' top South African destination, with up to three daily flights.
• Emirates customers can easily connect to other destinations through the airline's codeshare agreements with local carriers.

It has been 29 years since Emirates launched flights to South Africa. It started with three weekly flights from Dubai to Johannesburg via the Comoros in June 1995. According to data from Cirium , an aviation analytics company, Emirates offers 42 weekly flights to South Africa, serving the country's three major gateways. Let us take a look at its three South African routes.

42 weekly flights to South Africa

South Africa is one of Africa's most popular destinations. According to Stats SA , the country recorded about 31 million travelers in 2023 , with nearly 75% being international travelers. As of June 2024, there are over 35 international airlines flying to and from South Africa. Up to 19 international carriers serve both Johannesburg and Cape Town , while only four serve all three major gateways, including Durban.

With up to 42 weekly flights, Emirates is the top intercontinental carrier in the country. Speaking to Simple Flying last month, Emirates Regional Manager of Southern Africa Afzal Parambil highlighted that South Africa is one of the airline's most important markets globally. It has seen high demand for first class travel and looks to introduce premium economy soon. As such, it remains one of the few carriers still offering first class travel to this part of the world.

Analysis: The 5 Airlines Operating The Most Flights At Johannesburg OR Tambo International Airport

Serving the three major airports, three daily flights to johannesburg.

As you would guess, Johannesburg OR Tambo International Airport (JNB) is Emirates' top destination in South Africa, with 21 weekly/three daily flights from Dubai International Airport (DXB). The airline flies both the Airbus A380 and Boeing 777 to South Africa's busiest airport. The two-way services are as follows (all times local):

Emirates launched Airbus A380 flights to Johannesburg in February 2017. At the time, it had four daily flights between Dubai and Johannesburg, all operated with the Triple Seven. Today, Johannesburg is one of only four African airports served by the flagship A380 . The airline has its own lounge at OR Tambo and offers chauffeur services for its premium customers.

Two daily flights to Cape Town

Emirates launched daily flights to Cape Town International Airport (CPT) in March 2008. Last year, the airline re-introduced a second daily flight to 'The Mother City,' restoring its pre-pandemic schedule and supporting Cape Town's tourism industry. Flights to and from Cape Town have the following schedule:

After Airlink, Emirates has the most international flights to Cape Town. Furthermore, it is the only airline with first class flights to South Africa's second-busiest airport. It also has its own lounge at the airport, offering a wide range of premium services.

Cape Town Airport Breaks All Time Record For International Passengers

Daily flights to durban.

The Dubai-based carrier introduced flights to Durban King Shaka International Airport (DUR) in October 2009. The launch of the route supported non-stop travel from Dubai to Durban, one of the host cities for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Within the first ten years, the airline carried over two million passengers on the route. In December 2022, Emirates added two more flights to Durban , making it a daily operation.

Want answers to more key questions in aviation? Check out the rest of our guides here .

Similarly, Emirates is the only airline with first class flights to Durban. It is also one of five international airlines with flights to South Africa's three major gateways. However, unlike Johannesburg and Cape Town, the airline does not have its own lounge. While premium customers can still expect consistent products and services, they must use the Umphafa Lounge at Durban King Shaka Airport.

Access to additional destinations

Passengers flying from Dubai to Johannesburg, Cape Town, and Durban also have access to several domestic and regional destinations through Emirates' codeshare and interline agreements with Airlink, South African Airways, FlySafair, and Cemair, the country's four largest airlines. The partnership with the national carrier SAA dates back to 1997 when Emirates signed its first-ever codeshare agreement with another airline.

Before the COVID-19 pandemic that forced SAA to halt operations, the two airlines had a complementary joint network of up to 110 destinations. The groundbreaking codeshare agreement with Airlink was activated in June 2022, allowing customers to book flights to eight domestic destinations from Johannesburg, five from Cape Town, and one from Durban.

Examined: The Airlines That Emirates Has Codeshare Agreements With

Supporting tourism and sports.

Apart from being the leading international carrier in South Africa, Emirates is also involved in many tourism and sports activities. The airline has partnerships with the South African Tourism Board, the Southern Africa Tourism Services Association, and other tourism organizations to market South Africa as a favorable destination.

Afzal Parambil said that South Africa is a strategic market, both as a source market and as a destination. The Dubai-based carrier's tourism partnerships extend to other regions in Africa through its agreements with the tourism authorities of Zimbabwe , Uganda, Mauritius, and Morocco.

Emirates is also a well-known sponsor of sports tournaments and teams. In South Africa, the airline has been the title sponsor of the Emirates Lions since 2015 and holds the naming rights of the Lions stadium, Emirates Airline Park, in Johannesburg. As the official worldwide partner of the Rugby World Cup 2023, the carrier was responsible for flying the Springboks back to South Africa after winning their fourth title last year.

What are your thoughts on this story? Please let us know in the comments!

Ethiopian Airlines’ most popular route is between Joburg and Mumbai

Ethiopian Airlines is Africa’s largest carrier, ranking first for the number of passenger airports served.

The latest booking stats from the airline revealed Mumbai-Johannesburg as the leading origin-destination pair last year, with an estimated 59 000 roundtrip passengers, according to  Simple Flying .

INDIA-SOUTH AFRICA LEADS

In 2023 Ethiopian Airlines transported more passengers between the two nations than elsewhere. This is due to Addis Ababa’s strategic location, and the airline’s competitive pricing.

It is also influenced by a lack of non-stop flights between the two countries.

The carrier serves Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, and Mumbai in India, and Cape Town and Johannesburg in South Africa.

TOP AIRPORT PAIRS

Ethiopian Airlines’  top 10 most popular airport pairs  (origins and destinations) in 2023 were:

Mumbai-Johannesburg via Addis Ababa

Dubai-Kinshasa

Jeddah-Kano

Manchester-Lagos

Marseille-Comoros

Dubai-Bamako

Paris CDG-Comoros

Jeddah-Abuja

London Heathrow-Lagos

Frankfurt-Windhoek

With Mumbai-Johannesburg as the leading origin-destination pair, it carried 81 passengers daily each way.

Remarkably, when all airlines are considered,  Ethiopian carried almost 50% of passengers between the two cities .

Dubai-Kinshasa, potentially served by Emirates in the future, also showed significant demand. This highlights the important role Ethiopian Airlines plays in connecting various global regions, with South Africa being a critical hub in its network.

The last time there were non-stop flights between Johannesburg and Mumbai was in 2015 (served by South African Airways) and aviation experts say the market is crying out for them to return.

ETHIOPIAN AIRLINES THE BIGGEST CONNECTER

By next month, Ethiopian Airline’s route map will include 132 airports across Africa, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, North America, and South America.

Freetown , Maun, Nekemte, and Warsaw will also be added as new destinations.

As a significant carrier, Ethiopian Airlines is the leading African operator for connecting passengers. Data shows around 11 million passengers transited through its Addis Ababa hub last year, working out to over 30 000 passengers daily.

The post Ethiopian Airlines’ most popular route is between Joburg and Mumbai appeared first on SAPeople - Worldwide South African News .

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Weekly Travel News Recap, 7 June: Southern African "univisa" set to expand, new BMW 1 Series, and more

Catch up on all the latest travel news with drive south africa..

Each week, our team scours the web for the most interesting, trending, and unusual travel news, conservation news, and motoring news stories. Here are this week’s biggest scoops.

Travel News

• South Africa named sixth best honeymoon destination in the world once again .  Big 7 Travel has once again placed South Africa in its Top 10 World’s Best Honeymoon Destinations, citing appealing factors like the number of “adult only” and five-star hotels, the local cost of wine and a three-course meal, the availability of honeymoon packages, and the variety of sightseeing and activities on offer. Koh Chang in Thailand took first place on the list.
• Concerns raised after Namibia removes 31 countries from visa-exempt list .  Namibia removed the countries, including Canada, France, Germany, the Netherlands, the UK, and the USA, for not offering reciprocal visa exemptions. The SADC Business Council Tourism Alliance has expressed concern, claiming that “a restrictive visa regime can negatively impact the entire tourism value chain”.
• Southern African countries announce plans to expand “univisa” .  Angola, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe, all part of the Kavango-Zambezi (KAZA) Transfrontier Conservation Area, are exploring the possibility of broadening the use of the univisa. The special common visa is currently used in Zambia and Zimbabwe and enables tourists to take day trips to Botswana through Kazangula. Botswana has pledged to fully adopt the visa.
• South Africa crowned as the friendliest nation in the world .  Relocation expert Remitly has released a study ranking the friendliest nations in the world, naming South Africa as the undisputed winner. The country scored particularly highly in the “agreeableness” metric and the company says locals are warm and welcoming, “making it easy for travellers and visitors alike to feel at ease around them”.
• Tiffindell, South Africa’s only ski resort, is closed for good .  The resort has posted a message on its website saying that it has been closed since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic and is now for sale. According to Chris Stevens, the realtor acting on behalf of the resort, the ski season has now also been limited to just three months, making operations virtually impossible to sustain. However, it’s possible that any buyer would re-launch the resort under a new brand.
• SAA to grow representation in Europe .  South African Airways has signed an agreement with Discover the World to increase its presence in Europe, aiming to “optimise connectivity” and capitalise on European markets and their “significant contribution to tourism and business travel”.
• Qantas set to re-establish Johannesburg-Perth route by 2025 .  The Australian airline has signed a new deal with Perth Airport to enhance two terminals used by the carrier. As a result, Qantas will be able to re-introduce its Johannesburg-Perth route, which is currently serviced by South African Airways.

Conservation News

• WATCH: Experts warn new changes will allow SANParks to skip environmental impact assessments .  Earlier this year, the Department of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment gazetted a proposal to cancel statutory environmental impact assessment checks for certain developments in Kruger National Park. Environmental law specialists have now raised their concerns.
• Short film Beyond the Bite documents shark attack victim’s quest to champion shark conservation .  Released by WILDTRUST, the film features Caleb Swanepoel, an actor and para-athlete who lost his leg to a great white shark in 2015. The organisation says it’s “mind-blowing” how Swanepoel wants to “give back to the very species that took something from him” in a quest to change perceptions around the marine predators. The film was released as part of the Sharks Under Attack conservation campaign.
• UN says financing is integral to South Africa’s mission to expand protected areas .  The UN Development Programme says that as the world faces an “escalating crisis of biodiversity loss”, South Africa is struggling to “maintain the current conservation estate”. It’s increasingly encouraging private sector investment through offsetting and says we need an integrated approach to “address the challenges of biodiversity loss, climate change, and land degradation”.

Motoring News

• BMW M Fest South Africa set to return to Kyalami from 24 to 27 October .  The world’s biggest M Fest returns with more high-performance car debuts, BMW model exhibitions, and professional racing at Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit in Johannesburg. Exciting events include the local launch of the new BMW M5 and the updated M4 CS.
• New Haval Jolion set to be cheaper than previous model .  According to reports, the new Jolion SUV range will start at a lower price than the previous model, while more premium models will also cost consumers slightly less than before. Haval will also launch the Jolion Pro, featuring upgrades like bigger wheels, dedicated drive and steering modes, and a panoramic sunroof.
• Nissan pulls Qashqai SUV from South African market .  The manufacturer has ceased local sales of the SUV after 17 years on the market, citing “a continuous assessment of [its] vehicle line-up”.  Cars.co.za suggests that because the vehicle is manufactured in the UK, exchange rates have made it an uncompetitive offering in South Africa.
• BMW unveils fourth-generation 1 Series .  The German manufacturer has released details of the all-new 1 Series hatchback range, featuring “a dynamic design presence, a completely revised drive portfolio, and extensively improved chassis technology” alongside a fresh design and new engines.
• Ford South Africa celebrates millionth Ranger bakkie produced at Silverton Manufacturing Plant in Pretoria .  The Ranger has been locally produced for three generations, spanning 24 years, and remains one of South Africa’s most popular passenger and commercial vehicles. The latest model was named SA Car of the Year in 2023.

Planning to get away this weekend? Hire a vehicle with Drive South Africa . We’ve been putting people behind the wheel for over 20 years and we’ll do the same for you. No fuss, no stress, just Africa’s leading vehicle rental service. Check out our nifty Road Trip Explorer for more travel inspiration.

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